Braintree Rehab Hospital Calls For Prosthetic Limbs To Help Haiti Earthquake Victims

Devices Will Be Refurbished, Then Donated to Those Who Have Lost Limbs in the Recent Tragedy

BRAINTREE, Mass., January 27, 2010 - In an effort to assist people who have lost limbs in the recent earthquake in Haiti, Braintree Rehabilitation Hospital (BRH) is accepting donations of unused prosthetic arms and legs. The limbs will then be sent to the large number of earthquake victims who have either had limbs severed in the destruction or who have undergone amputations as a result of their injuries.

The need for prosthetic limbs in the Haiti disaster is particularly acute, not only because of the obvious medical need, but given the country's traditionally poor economy - Haiti is the most impoverished country in the Western hemisphere - the vast majority of victims would be unable to afford them. Consider that an above-knee prosthesis averages about $16,500, with a below-knee prosthesis going for about $7,000.

According to John Griffin, Lead Prosthetist at Orthopedic Rehabilitation Systems (ORS), which is headquartered at the BRH facility, there are a surprising number of people who have unused prosthetics.

"There are a variety of reasons people would no longer need their prosthetics," he said. "In many cases, the wearer is recently deceased; however, the wearer may also have purchased a more advanced prosthetic or is willing to part with one when a spare device is no longer needed."

Prosthetic donations can be made to BRH at any time. Once received, the limbs will be disassembled by ORS and the usable parts will be refurbished and distributed to earthquake victims through The Barr Foundation, a non-profit established to help improve the quality of life for amputees around the world.

For additional information or questions, call ORS at (781) 348-2289.

BRH is located at 250 Pond Street in Braintree, MA.

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