Prosthetics & Orthotics in Vellore

Losing a limb or living with a condition that changes how you walk is life-altering. Our prosthetics and orthotics service supports patients through the whole pathway — pre-prosthetic conditioning, prosthetic training after fitting, orthotic prescription for foot and lower-limb conditions, and long-term gait rehabilitation.

We work with adults after upper- and lower-limb amputation (traumatic, diabetic, vascular, oncological), with patients who need AFOs (ankle-foot orthoses) or KAFOs (knee-ankle-foot orthoses) after stroke or spinal cord injury, with children requiring paediatric orthoses, and with patients living with diabetes who need protective footwear and structured foot care.

The clinic works closely with surgical teams at CMC Vellore and local prosthetist-orthotists so device fitting, training, and long-term follow-up are coordinated rather than fragmented.

CMC Vellore's orthopaedic, vascular, and oncology services perform a significant volume of amputations each year. Patients often stay in Vellore for a few weeks after surgery, and this window is ideal for pre-prosthetic conditioning that shortens time to independent walking later.

We coordinate with prosthetist-orthotists in Vellore and Chennai for device fabrication and adjustment. Where a device is being made in Chennai or Bangalore, we support pre- and post-fitting rehab locally.

Prosthetic and orthotic care is a long relationship, not a one-off intervention. Bodies change, jobs change, and devices wear out — we schedule 6–12 monthly reviews so problems are caught early.

For amputee patients returning to work, we plan job-simulation drills — climbing stairs, carrying loads, standing for long periods — so the first day back at work is not the first day the prosthesis is tested at that level.

Phantom-limb pain is common after amputation. Mirror therapy, desensitisation, and graded motor imagery help most patients, and we introduce these techniques early in the pre-prosthetic phase.

Coordination with prosthetist-orthotists: we do not fabricate devices in-clinic. What we provide is the rehabilitation pathway around device use — pre-fitting conditioning, prescription support, fitting-day training, and long-term follow-up.

Phantom-limb pain: this is common after amputation. Mirror therapy, desensitisation, and graded motor imagery help most patients, and we introduce these techniques early in the pre-prosthetic phase.

Return-to-work planning: for amputee patients returning to work, we plan job-simulation drills — climbing stairs, carrying loads, standing for long periods — so the first day back is not the first day the prosthesis is tested at that level.

Long-term follow-up: devices need review as bodies and jobs change. We schedule six- to twelve-monthly reviews even for stable users, so a poorly-fitting AFO or a worn-out prosthetic liner is caught before it causes skin breakdown or falls.

Evidence base in brief: early pre-prosthetic conditioning (in the first two to six weeks after amputation) is associated with shorter time to independent walking and better long-term prosthesis use. Structured gait retraining after fitting improves community mobility and reduces falls.

Insurance considerations: physiotherapy sessions are typically covered under most Indian outpatient policies with correct documentation. Device costs vary widely — we help you plan around what is and is not covered before fitting so there are no surprises.

Red-flag surveillance: skin breakdown on the residual limb, sudden change in stump volume, new pain, or falls are addressed the same day — often with a same-week adjustment appointment with your prosthetist-orthotist.

Long-term follow-up cadence: six-monthly reviews for stable users, three-monthly reviews for growing children, and one-monthly reviews in the first six months after a new fitting. Small adjustments at the right time prevent large problems later.

Skin care for prosthetic users: daily skin checks, hygiene routines, sock-management for volume changes, and immediate action on redness or hot-spots are taught at the first prosthetic-training session. Skin problems cause more prosthetic breakdowns than mechanical failures.

Orthotic wear-in protocol: new AFOs and KAFOs are typically worn in progressively — one hour on day one, two hours on day two, building to full-day wear over the first week. We monitor skin, comfort, and gait through this window closely.

Fitting-day support: for major device fittings we can attend with you at the prosthetist-orthotist's workshop, so gait feedback and adjustments happen in real time rather than through back-and-forth messages later.