According to Harvard Business Review, a prosthetic leg in the U.S. costs more than $10,000. 1.7 billion people worldwide earn less than $2 a day. It would take a poor family 5,000 days of income, or 50 years of work, to afford a $10,000 product.
ALTSO provides prosthetic limbs free of charge to children – who receive less than 20% of rehabilitation services in the developing world – at an average cost of only $250. We cover 100% of their treatment costs – which includes rehabilitation and any requisite follow-up procedures to ensure treatment is effective.
A prosthetic limb consists of three basic components:
THE SOCKET
- connects the residual limb to the mechanical support system (device)
THE EXTENSION
- acts as the replacement of the “length” of the missing limb (and may also incorporate a knee or elbow joint)
The FOOT OR HAND
Fitting a prosthetic limb involves three stages:
1. Physical and x-ray examinations are conducted to ensure natural bone structures are present. Unnatural bone structures can sometimes result in the need for surgical intervention.
2. Prosthetic sockets are custom made to fit each child’s residual limb measurements.
3. Physical rehabilitation ensures proper gait alignment and prosthetic limb use.
