Marie Rumbaut a P&O student(Bachelor of Orthopaedic Technology)-Katholieke Hogeschool Kempen(KHK)-GEEL Beligium,has just finish her internship in our department.


This "Kitenge and Kanga" will remind you Tanzania.



I have learned alot from,



We real appreciate your work!!

A Calcaneal Spur

Calcaneal Spur –An exostosis projecting on the planter surface of the calcaneus near the origin of the plantar fascia. It seen on a lateral roentgenogram of the heel. The exostosis may be associated with periosteal thickening and chronic bursitis.

Note: Since one with this problem can experiences the pain at the heel during walking on affected foot, the application of arch support is recommended to relief this pain. During fabrication of this arch support the painful part (at calcaneal) should be considered by adding soft cushion.



An arch support which used to relief pain for one with calcaneal spur,this arch support can also be used for other foot pathology/deformity such as pes planus(foot flat),pes cavus (hollow foot) only that it need some modification according to the deformity.

what is the different?

If we use this word "Prosthetics and Orthotics department" and "Orthopaedic Workshop" Does this make the same means.?

From Wheel chair to Special sit

Wheel chair; Is a chair mounted on a wheels for the transportation of an occupant who is incapable of ambulation it may be manually or electronically propelled by occupant or by another individual.



Special sit: is when the wheel chair is modified to fullfil another special need(as you can see from the photo above.
This type of secial sit mostly used for children with SPINA BIFIDA even those with severe spine deformity.

SPINA BIFIDA ;Infants born with spina bifida often have an open lesion on their spine(myelomeningocele) where siginificant damage to the nerves and spinal cord has occured.Although the spinal opening can be surgically repaired shortly after birth,the nerve damage is permanent,resulting in varying degrees of paralysis of the lower limbs.
A Spina bifida often leads to results to those of a spinal cord injury.
NOTE:wheel chair after modified can improve quality of life of a concerned child since by using a special sit she/he can even to go to school.




After Special sit,before she could not sit"new life has started"

Hivyo wadau hii baiskeli ya miguu mitatu/minne baada ya kifanyiwa marekebisho kadhaa basi inaweza kubadilisha maisha ya watoto wenye ulemavu pia inampa mzazi unafuu katika malezi kwani muda wote wanawabeba mgongoni,kwa mazingira haya hata shughuli za uzalishaji kwao ni ngumu,bali wanapotengenezewa kifaa kama hicho kina kuwa ni msaada mkubwa kwao,kwani hatimaye mtoto anaweza kwenda shule(ingawa inabidi apate meza/dawati maalum)
Watoto wenye mahitaji maalum kama haya wako wengi hivyo kumbuka kama unaweza kupata hizi baiskeli za magurudumu matatu/manne(ndogo za watoto ambapo upatikanaji wake si mkubwa kama za watu wazima) na tukiwasiliana basi ujue utaleta mabadiliko kwa jamii.

First Endoskeletal Legs projuced in Indonesian University.

The Jakarta Globe reports that one Indonesian university has built its first group of endoskeletal prostheses. A team of four faculty members at Sabelas Maret University, Surakarta, Central Java, took about a week to produce two legs.

Lobes Herdiman, head of the technical planning and research engineering laboratory led the team. “The endoskeletal prosthetic leg is modular in nature, thus it can be assembled, removed and fine-tuned and adjusted. It’s very flexible,” Herdiman was quoted as saying. “The legs will enable users to do things like bend their knees, wear shoes, tie shoelaces and sit cross-legged,” an unusual feat in a country where exoskeletal legs are common.

Herdiman also stated that with the success of the legs, his group has begun to work on endoskeletal upper-limb prostheses.

Source:The O&P EDGE.

From orthopaedic dictionary.

Macrodactyly- A rare congenital anomaly of gigantism in fingers or less commonly toes.There is enlargement of all structures of involved digit.





Polydactylism- One or more extra digits on the hands or feet.These digits vary from a simple skin tag to developed digits with osseous and neurovascular structures.treatmentusually consists of removal of the supernumerary part.

Prosthetic feet

SACH Foot,
S.A.C.H =Soft Ankle Cushioning Heel.

Prosthetic feet may divided into a number of categories,weather its conventional or dynamic response should provide the following function;
should be;
-joint simulation
-stable weight bearing base of support
-shock absorption
-muscle simulation
-and Cosmetic appearence.

Microprocessor knee

This type of knee work on strain and motion sensors.these unit can sense weather a flexion or extension moment is occuring and the specific knee position that is present.On board computer assists knee resistance allowing a wide range of gait,normally perfom speeds from very slow to very fast.

I may say that "the technology mimic the anatomic/biological knee as it enable most of its function"





Changamoto iliyopo ni je jamii zetu zitaweza lini kufaidi tekinologia hizi?Ukizingatia gharama zake ni kubwa.
Inabidi tuifanyie kazi changamoto hii!!!

This is how you can stablelize a weak wrist.

If you have a problem of weak wrist,this wrist support is your solution.
You can try it and see the outcome.

Study tour

Student from Tatcot Mr Atsu and Mr Koffi both from Ghana have made a study tour in our department, together with their supervisor Mr Walter Tuni from CCBRT where their doing the internship.

From orthopaedic dictionary.

Is a basic type of cervical orthosis that wraps around the neck and is adjustable circumferentially.It can be soft fabricated from polyethylene foam,rubber and felt) or hard (fabricated from lightpolyethylene or other plastic,normally used as an extension orthosis for relieve of pain ,mainly at the vertebrae column due to different pathological reasons.



Cervical collar fabricated with soft polyethylene foam.


Cervical collar fabricated with hard polyethylene foam.

MD 5 students from MUHAS learning about P&O.

Mr Soud Mansour demonstrating different appliances.


He is cutting posterior shell,its for supporting the fracture.

People and technology!!!!

Preparation for final finishing.


Just after final lamination.


OOh!!Its looks good,read for fitting.

Lesson from Orthopaedic Dictionary!

Cobb’s Method.
A technique for measuring the angle of the scoliotic curve on an anteroposterior radiograph of the spine.
First,determine the superior and inferior end vertebrae,the superior end vertebrae is the last one in which the superior border poits to the concavity of the curve to be measured .The inferior end vertebra is the last one whose inferior border still points toward the concavity of the curve to be measured.
Then draw intersecting perpendicular lines from the superior and inferior surface of the inferior vertebra.The angle formed by these perpendicular lines is the angle of curve.
Also called Cobb-Lipmann Method

From Learning up teaching

We have started sharing the fruit of just ended E-Learning course on Spinal Orthosis which was conducted at TATCOT.


Different design of spinal Orthosis-Used for management of spinal deformity.

I and CCBRT staff of Prosthetics and Orthotics department.

Prosthetist needed for Hike Kilimanjaro Trek

Hello, We are organising a trek to Hike Kilimanjaro in October 2010 to raise funds for the 2010 Amputee Games. We have 12 people interested to date of which six are amputees. We think it would be sensible to have a qualified Prosthetist on the trek with us, just in case anyone needs adjustments. It would be awful if someone had to pull out due to their prostheses. We will only ask the prosthetist to cover his tour costs (about £1,900) through his/her fund-raising rather than the full
£3,500.
If you are interested in joining us for the Hike KilimanjaroTrek or would just like to know more, why don't you come along to the meeting on Saturday 17th October, where we will talk about the event and discuss fund-raising ideas. Refreshments will be provided. Stay and join us for lunch after.

Meeting venue: Welbeck GroupLevel 3130 Wood StreetLondonEC2V 6DL Just off Cheapside, by St Paul's. - Card Galore and Ted Baker on the corner of Cheapside. Closest tube stations - St Paul's (Central Line), Bank Station, Mansion House (District) Liverpool Street station, Blackfriars station or Cannon Street (all very close)

Kiera Roche(kieraf1@BTINTERNET.COM)

HELLO PROSTHETIST,PLEASE SUPPORT THIS PEOPLE SO THAT YOU CAN BE PART OF THEIR DREAM.
YOU CAN CONTACT THEM VIA THE ABOVE EMAIL.
By Halil Mnzava.

The Erb's palsy and its management by using Splint.

It occurs during 2nd stage birth assistance, the injury involves the cervical nerve roots of
5th and 6th spinal nerves.
The words PALSY means temporary or permanent loss of sensation or loss of ability to
move or to control movement.

At this point usually during score of the I baby its very important for the birth assistants
to note down any kind of expected deformity for possible early correction protocols

The EPS is made of Polypropylene with straps it may be of Velcro or other available
materials which aim to discourage all known abnormal patterns of the affected upper
limb(internal rotation of the glenohumeral joint,internal rotation of the forearm, wrist
flexion, finger flexion, adduction of the upper limb, lugging of the shoulder.Subluxion of
the glenohumeral joint and abduction of the scapulae) sometime with/without loss of
sensation.
Erb’s Splint aims also to minimize natural anatomical traction/tension between cervical
region in relation with shoulder girdle.
Erb’s Splints has shown a significant prognosis to in most of the babies if starts seven
days of age. Mode of application is NIGHT SPLINT ,this is to enable the baby to taly
with their normal motor development DURING A DAY.
By Hillary Tesha.
you can contact him,lunnartz@yahoo.co.uk


Mr Emmanuel Mbinga(Senior Shoe orthopaedic Shoe maker and Orthotics technician)left side and Mr Hilary Tesha,Physiotherepy,at right


The management of the Erb's palsy by using the Splint,in Lateral view.The Design and fitting was done by Mr Emmanuel Mbinga(Orthoic technician,Senior orthopaedic shoe maker) and Mr Hilary Tesha(Physiotherapy).They have got alot of experience in pediatric cases.Their photos above.

Karibu Tanzania.

Marie Rumbaut a third year student,(Bachelor of Orthopaedic Technology) from Katholieke Hogeschool Kempen(KHK)
in GEEL BELIGIUM with our Department staff.
She will be with us up to the end of December as a part oif her internship.
Karibu sana








The lamination of T.T socket

What is scoliosis?

Ms Leah Mamseri of MOI in final stage o fitting spinal orthosis,Spinal orthosis is one way of correcting the scoliosis.

Scoliosis.

Is an appreciable lateral deviation in the normally vertical line of the spine .Scoliosis consists of lateral curvature of the spine and the rotation of the vertebrae around the long axis of the spine. The ribs on the convex side of the curve may become prominent as the vertebral bodies rotate towards the convex side while the spinous processes rotate toward the concave side of the cave. Eventually, the disc spaces are narrowed in the concave side and widened on the convex side .Scoliosis is classified by etiology and described by location, association with other curvature of the spine, and sometimes age of onset.Radiologic evaluation of scoliosis requires upright film of the entire spine in frontal and lateral projection.

Among of the modern knee axis in the market

I was impressed to see the functional ability of this joint.

Fitting of the TT Prosthesis

its real good for the prosthetist to see the client is satsfied with the appliance.

"A warm welcome"

Two P&O student from The Haagse Hogeschool-The Netherland when they make a study tour in our department.They are at Salvation Army School in Dar es salaam as a part of their field work,Martin Mens and Goel Biog others are staff of P&O department at MOI.We say "Karibu sana"

This is effective for diabetics amputee

By using the Plasterzote to cover the sensitive area of the transtibial socket,this method will provide more comfort to the transtibial amputee prosthesis wearer.

Suspension for Transtibial prosthesis.

"Made in"?

KCM-COLLEGE,TUMAINI UNIVERSITY MOSHI,TANZANIA.

announcement from the Chief Editor

Chief Editor announcing the new edition of TATCOT News Letter.
Read it through www.tatcot.org
also you can contact,
The secretary,
TATCOT-News Letter
Po Box 8690
KCMC,Moshi-Tanzania.
Phone:+255-272753986/7
Fax:+255-272752038
E-mail:tatcotnewsletter@kilinet.co.tz.

TATCOT NEWS LETTER"A life time opportunity"

Front page of Tatcot News Letter,1st Edition April 2009.

This is real make sense for P&O associations.!

"A primary task is to spell out in writing that the professional organizationof P&O have,indeed ,accepted resposibility for its educational destiny.If this fails,then it has no right to call itself a profession,either today or in future"

By J.W.Perry,PhD
PonteVedraI(1970)

The aligment of Knee disarticulation Prosthesis by using jig

See how new technology changes amputee's life"

This sitting is an outcome of new technology in P&O.

When the new technology will reach him?

We have experienced a very advanced type of prosthesis but unfortunately there still amputees "under the same sun"the new technology is untold story.
This will remain a challenge for us.

Weekly presentation"TRANSFEMORAL SOCKET DESIGN"

Transfemoral socket
-types of socket
.Quadrilateral socket
.Ischial containment socket
-its features
PRESENTER:Halil Mnzava.





Its Quadrilateral when viewing it in transverse plane.



Now is clear!!




The idea was how to position the ischial tuberocity in the Ischial sit.