Rehabilitation of patients with lower limb amputation in Ukraine will now be more efficient all across the country.

In early June, 2023 a large-scale nationwide program of intensive training of specialists in prosthetics and accompanying rehabilitation was held. The organizer was Protez Hub. Partners of the program: Prosthetika, World Rehabilitation Fund, Humanitarian Initiative "Saving Lives", All-Ukrainian Association of Physical Therapists, Project "Rehabilitation of War Injuries", Nova Ukraine and Ukrainian community of Thailand. With the assistance of the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine and the Ministry of Health of Ukraine.

During the program the following goals were achieved:
Patients received high-quality and comfortable prostheses of the lower extremities
20 physical therapists from different regions of Ukraine gained experience working with patients who have complex amputation at the hip level at the pre-prosthetic stage
20 physical therapists from different regions of Ukraine gained experience working with patients who have complex amputation at the hip level at the prosthetic training stage
20 physical therapists from different regions of Ukraine have been trained in the use of PPAM Aid for early verticalization of a patient with lower limb amputation and are ready to apply new knowledge at their respective healthcare facilities
10 prosthetists from different regions of Ukraine gained practical experience in fabricating prostheses of the lower extremities with complex amputations at the hip level using the latest effective technology, which has not been used in Ukraine before
All participants gained invaluable practical experience of interaction and collaboration as part of a multidisciplinary team

As part of the program, thanks to the financial support of Metinvest, 10 healthcare and social protection institutions in seven regions of Ukraine will be provided with unique equipment for early verticalization of patients with lower limb amputations.

Center for Comprehensive Rehabilitation "Galychyna" was the first to receive such equipment and has already begun its effective use. This equipment will make rehabilitation of patients with amputations of the lower extremities much more effective and qualitatively shorten the period to prosthetic rehabilitation.

'I am infinitely grateful to the organizers for the opportunity to attend such a high-level training: the program of intensive training of specialists in prosthetics and accompanying rehabilitation. I am happy to learn new things and confirm my knowledge, which is also very useful.
My experience working with amputees is in most cases pre-prosthetic rehabilitation, starting from the acute period. But I had a lot of questions about what to do next, and after this week 90% of the questions were closed. I became convinced how important our work is in acute and subacute periods. After us, prosthetists get strong, trained patients without contractures, with good balance and ability to use assistive means. With formed stumps and the ability to apply a bandage.' - said Daria Krapiva, rehabilitation specialist, Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, City Clinical Hospital 4 of Dnipro City Council.

"Today, in Ukraine, prosthetic specialists, unfortunately, face complex cases of amputations, which are supplemented by concomitant lesions due to mine-blast injuries, concussions or infections. For effective rehabilitation of such patients, it is important for a physical therapist and prosthetist to work in a team. It is very valuable for us to master the experience of highly qualified foreign rehabilitation specialists who are ready to come and, while working with patients, teach how to most effectively help in difficult cases. I thank Prosthetika and Protez Hub for organizing an experience exchange program," said Minister of Social Policy of Ukraine Oksana Zholnovych.