Pakistani amputee gets new lease of life in India

A Pakistani man who suffered irreparable damage to his arms in an accident back home, has got a new lease of life, thanks to an innovative assistive device created at a city hospital.
Rano, 41, had to undergo a bilateral limb amputation after suffering an electric shock from high-tension cables at his workplace five years ago. While his left arm was amputated from the shoulder, he lost his right arm from just above the elbow. The shock also affected his lower limbs taking away nearly 20 per cent of the functionality, said Dr H S Chhabra, chief of spine service and medical director, Indian Spinal Injuries Centre (ISIC).

After consulting many doctors in Pakistan, Rano decided to come to India.
Nekram Upadhyay, Head of the Department of Assistive Technology at ISIC created an innovative low-cost assistive device which acts like an artificial hand and helps in getting a grip of things.
"When Rano came to us, he was dejected. I asked him the first 5 things that he would want to do with his hands, to which he replied 'drinking, feeding, brushing, writing and operating a mobile phone'. We then created an innovative low cost small assistive device that was attached just above his elbow.
"We are happy to see that our innovation gave Rano the ability to become self independent at least for daily basic needs," said Upadhyay.

The inclusion of assistive device did not require any clinical intervention. Assistive devices are created based on the 'patient-driven approach' where a patient is clinically evaluated for developing the innovative and appropriate assistive devices.
Rano and his family are now happy that he would be able to return home and also be able to join work to earn his livelihood.