title: Clinical Appraisal of Indigenous Below Knee Endoskeletal Carbon Fibre Prosthesis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Amputation is a catastrophe, which results in physical, social, psychological and economic handicap. Provision of suitable prosthesis (artificial limb) is a major step towards rehabilitation of these patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  With an aim to provide comfortable, prosthesis to these patients, Artificial Limb Centre (ALC) Pune, developed Below Knee Carbon Fibre Shaft Endo-Skeletal (BK ES CF) Prosthesis in collaboration with DEBEL, Bangalore, a DRDO establishment. 815 Below Knee Amputee patients have been provided with the newly developed Endo-skeletal prostheses at ALC Pune till 31 Dec 2003. New BK ESCF prosthesis was evaluated for its performance by feedback received from 500 patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  More than 86% patients were satisfied with the performance of new prosthesis and they achieved almost normal gait.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The performance of new BK ESCF prostheses was excellent and it achieved good clientele satisfaction.
authors.affiliation: Classified Specialist (Surgery & Prosthetic Surgery), CH(EC), Kolkata.
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Pithawa
authors.affiliation: Ex-Comdt, ALC, Pune.
authors.forename: Gurjit
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: DDMS, HQ 3 Corps(Med), c/o 99 APO.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ravindranath
keywords: Clientele satisfaction; Endoskeletal; Performance; Prosthesis; Rehabilitation