In recent news, it was reported that a young elephant, Chhouk, in Cambodia has received a prosthetic foot. After being found in a trapper’s patch, the elephant’s leg was severely injured and required 6 of the 8 inches of his leg be removed. With his new leg, he has been given a second chance with childhood and has been able to run through the forest and play with the other elephants. It is a sweet ending to such a terrible event.
Prosthetics are a medical breakthrough that has allowed many people to get back up on their feet again. Amputation, although often looked at as a terrible outcome, is a way to save a person from the dead tissue of their body extending further upward eventually affecting vital organs and resulting in death. Tissue death can result from many complications, including frost bite, ulcers, and trauma. The ability to be mobile is a requirement for many of life’s daily activities. For some, this is achieved by use of a wheelchair or a scooter, but for many, this involves walking on your own two feet. It allows us the ability, like Chhouk, to go running through the woods.
We have all seen the amazing stories of the young kids who will get two prosthetic legs and then complete marathons, play soccer, and live out their dreams. However, these are not the only type of prostheses. There are partial foot and total foot prosthetics available. This is because not all amputations require the leg to be taken off up to the knee. The podiatrist you are working with will work to conserve as much of your leg as possible giving you the quickest recovery possible.
There are also different types of prosthetics that allow different levels of range of motion. Depending on your activity level, the prosthetic that will help you maintain your daily routine will be selected. An important thing to remember is that through working with a podiatrist, many amputations can be avoided, especially those from ulcers. Your podiatrist knows the importance of your foot to you and your lifestyle and is committed to exhaust all other options before suggesting an amputation. In the case of Chhouk though, it was necessary, and modern medical science has saved his life.
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