Coimbatore: A 32-year-old woman who lost both her hands after she suffered an electric shock last year has received a new lease on life with doctors at the Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) fitting her with lightweight prosthetic limbs. Thanks to the artificial limbs made at the hospital’s Artificial Limb Centre, K Rukmani, of Kothagiri in the Nilgiris, could now carry out her daily chores independently.
Rukmani, a mother of two, suffered the electric shock in September 2024, when she attempted to retrieve a ball that fell down from terrace while her children were playing. “The iron rod she used to retrieve the ball accidently touched a live electric line. The electric shock rendered both her arms non-functional,” a hospital source said.
Rukmani was admitted to the CMCH, where plastic surgeons amputated both her hands below the elbow to save her life. As soon as her wounds were healed, Rukmani was referred to the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the CMCH on February 25. She was subsequently fitted with modern prosthetic arms under the chief minister’s comprehensive health insurance scheme. She received training with the prosthetic limbs, learning to write names independently and pick up and place objects.
According to Dr Nirmala, dean, CMCH, the hospital’s Artificial Limb Centre custom designs and prepares prosthetic arms and legs for patients on-site. “More than 200 prosthetic limbs have been provided to those in need under the chief minister’s comprehensive health insurance scheme. In private hospitals, prosthetic fittings could cost up to Rs2 lakh. But under the chief minister’s comprehensive health insurance scheme, they are provided free of cost,” she said.
She commended the team of doctors and staff for their efforts in fitting the lightweight prosthetic limbs and providing continuous training. The team comprises Dr Vetri Vel Chezhiyan, director, Institute of Orthopaedics; Dr Senthilkumar, head, Department of Plastic Surgery; Dr Padmarani, assistant professor, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation; prosthetic technician Jagan; and occupational therapist Sridevi.
The Artificial Limb Centre at the CMCH began manufacturing lightweight prosthetic limbs in July 2020. The first transtibial prosthetic limb was fitted to a woman on August 15, 2020.
