A case report on the collaboration of health care professionals in fitting and training seven Iraqi clients with right wrist disarticulations 9 years postamputation.
In 1995, seven men from Iraq had their right hands surgically amputated under the regime of Saddam Hussein. The men have lived with the shame, that is associated with missing a right hand in their culture, since that time. Recently, the media and a team of health care providers collaborated to bring these seven men to Houston, Texas, for surgical revisions, prosthetic hands, and occupational therapy services. The preprosthetic, interimprosthetic, and postprosthetic interventions are discussed, as well as the typical time frames for each. This case report outlines the time restrictions that were placed on the health care team and demonstrates the continuous collaborative approach between occupational therapists, prosthetists, and other health care professionals, which contributed to the initial successful outcomes for these men.
Krenek
Suzanne M
SM
Spinal Cord Injury and Amputee Programs, Department of Occupational Therapy, The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research, 1333 Moursund, Houston, Texas 77030, USA. krenes@tirr.tmc.edu
Vasquez
Myra
M
D001186:Artificial Limbs; D006225:Hand; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007493:Iraq; D008297:Male; D009788:Occupational Therapy; D019982:Organizational Case Studies; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration*