Expansion of services for Orthotics and Prosthetics Team

The expansion of Latrobe Regional Health’s Orthotics and Prosthetics team has allowed it to offer more comprehensive care and support to at-risk sections of the community. 

“Historically, our work has been aimed at people in immediate need of prosthetic limbs or orthotic support to improve quality of life.  

“With new staff on board, we can now also work with people who might be at risk of losing a lower limb for instance through providing more clinical time and being able to commit to a more preventative model,” Manager of Prosthetics and Orthotics at LRH, Bruce Poole said. 

This preventative model sees the team working with community members living with conditions such as diabetes and vascular conditions, as two examples. 

“Patients with a long history of diabetes may see blood flow to their legs and feet diminish over time which, in some cases, can lead to an amputation and the need for a prosthetic lower leg.  

“Similarly, any condition that sees reduced blood flow increases the risk of deterioration in those lower areas of the body, so we’re talking about heart conditions as well as obesity and a range of other chronic diseases,” Bruce said. 

The team has been able to expand its service to include the weekly Amputee Clinic, the High-Risk Foot Clinic, the newly opened Fracture Clinic at LRH as well as continuing to work across other LRH clinics and inpatient units. 

“What we’re able to do now is work with that person who has already lost a lower limb but is at risk of losing a second one, to lower the likelihood of that happening,” Bruce said. 

Diabetic foot ulcers are the leading cause of lower limb amputations in Australia, reducing quality of life for the patient and expense to the health budget. 

“For many people a shoe that isn’t a great fit might cause a blister and a few days of discomfort. For someone with diabetes, who is struggling to get adequate blood flow to the feet and toes, that blister can easily become an ulcer and a haven for infection which can lead to amputation.  

“If we can aid that patient with orthotics to minimise repeated stress of pressure on a part of the foot, we help that person with their foot care and lower the risk of an ulcer developing and the need for aggressive interventions such as amputation,” Bruce said. 

For diabetic of 58 years, Leon from East Gippsland, the experience of having his left leg amputated below the knee two and a half years ago hasn’t stopped him from maintaining an active life thanks in part to the work of the Orthotics and Prosthetics team at LRH. 

 “I had the leg removed in Melbourne and they said, ‘the LRH team will be best for you as they’re pretty much on your doorstep,’ so I’ve been with them since…They’ve been fantastic. They explain everything and nothing is too much trouble,” Leon said. 

Leon’s current care includes both ensuring his prosthetic limb is working well but also maintaining the health of his remaining leg. 

“I had some bleeding where the shoe was rubbing, and the team immediately got onto it, fitted me with an orthotic and fixed it up. It means I can continue to ride horses and get the boat out and live an active and full life. I can’t speak highly enough of the team. They are the most helpful medical team I’ve ever been treated by. No doubt.”

Pictured L-R: Shraddha Rasal – P&O clinician (Senior Orthotist, Grade3), Bruce Poole – (P&O manager), Rhys George – P&O clinician (Grade1), Grant Georgeson – Technical Officer, Sarah Keogh (front) P&O clinician (grade 1), Nuwan Gunarathne P&O clinician (grade 2), Missing; Katherine Hudson -P&O clinician (Senior Prosthetist, Grade 3).