Robert Heads for the Hills With New Prosthetic Device
Robert Upton (64), from Wolverhampton, proudly walked around Pace Rehabilitation’s clinic room, confidently using his recently provided bespoke silicone Symes prosthesis. His restored mobility was in stark contrast to his first appointment a few months previously.
As Robert explains, “When I originally came to Pace I was using a device from my local provider that I found restrictive and quite cumbersome. I couldn’t walk very far in it at all”.
Back in September 2009, whilst working as a fork lift truck driver operator, a piece of machinery fell and crushed Robert’s foot. He was rushed by ambulance for emergency treatment, in an attempt to save his foot. However, after six days and three operations, Robert’s injuries left him with an ankle disarticulation amputation.
He returned home, but was in no position to return to work and worried for his future. As Robert recalls, “It was obvious that I wasn’t going to be able to go back to my job. Also, before my accident, I was an active hill walker, but I felt a million miles away from being able to ever do that again”.
Fortunately, a relative of Robert’s, who works in the legal profession, recommended that he contact Victoria Price, of Price & Slater (Altrincham, Cheshire) to assist him with a litigation claim.
After agreeing to represent Robert, Victoria referred him to specialist rehabilitation providers Pace for a clinical assessment and Medico-Legal report.
As Victoria explains, “I instructed a joint assessment by a prosthetist and physiotherapist, to provide us with a complete picture for Robert’s rehabilitation needs”. She continues, “Armed with their comprehensive report and the other evidence gathered on Robert’s behalf, we were able to agree an out of court settlement, which he was happy to accept”.
The settlement enabled Robert to quickly commence his prosthetic provision. As he explains, “My experience of Pace had been excellent, so I asked them to provide me with my prosthesis”.
In his original report, prosthetist Jamie Gillespie recommended a bespoke silicone prosthesis, with a carbon fibre insole. As Jamie explains, “This solution offers to restore much of Robert’s loss of function, whilst being more discrete and aesthetically pleasing than a more conventional design”.
Robert decided to try the silicone prosthetic option, knowing that if it wasn’t suitable, he could explore a more traditional prosthesis. A home trial on a test device proved successful and so Robert met with silicone specialists to establish colour matches to his own skin tone to apply to the finished device.
When he collected the finished article, Robert was delighted with the outcome. He said “It’s great. As well as being far less bulky and better looking, I walk so much more naturally with it.”
As he summarised, “Thanks to Victoria and Pace’s support, I’ll certainly be showing my toes off when I’m on my summer holidays later this year”. Finally adding, “I hope get back to my hill walking too, something I never dreamt of after my accident!”
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