Pre-operative introductory meeting

An amputation changes your life, but that doesn't mean it has to be a limitation! Together, we will ensure that you start this new chapter stronger and with confidence. At Amputee Care Centre, an introductory meeting guarantees you:

• Personalised and multidisciplinary guidance before your amputation.
• Information and insight into your rehabilitation and prosthesis.
• Emotional and mental preparation.
• Faster recovery and better results after surgery.
• Contact with fellow amputees for extra support and perspective.

The Amputee Care Centre works closely with primary care providers, including medical pedicurists, general practitioners and home nurses, who often play an important role in referring patients for an introductory consultation.  

Early detection of problems

Primary care providers are often the first to detect complaints or abnormalities in feet and toes. Examples include:

• diabetic foot problems
• severe corns or pressure points
• amputations due to infections or circulation problems

Trusting relationship with the patient

Patients usually have a strong relationship of trust with their general practitioner, nursing staff or medical pedicurist. This makes it easier to:

• discuss sensitive topics, such as amputations
• lower the threshold for specialist aids
• promote adherence to treatment

Medical context and coordination of care

The general practitioner monitors the overall picture of the patient's health. This allows them to:

• assess whether an amputation is appropriate within the clinical picture
• coordinate with other healthcare providers such as podiatrists,
• orthopaedic surgeons, occupational therapists and prosthetists/orthopaedic technologists.

Preventive effect

Medical pedicurists help by working preventively on the foot health of high-risk patients (such as people with diabetes, rheumatism or circulatory disorders). Thanks to their specialised knowledge, they can assess in good time when a prosthesis is needed or when further damage can be prevented.

No, it is certainly not mandatory, but we strongly recommend it if you have the opportunity. It helps you approach the operation with more confidence and less uncertainty. Even after an operation or if your child is born with a congenital abnormality, we at ACC are happy to assist you with the best custom prosthesis and comprehensive care.

We know from experience that people who have had this consultation often recover more quickly and feel mentally stronger during the rehabilitation process.

No, an introductory consultation at Amputee Care Centre is always completely free of charge and without obligation.

No, you do not need a referral letter. You can contact us directly to schedule an introductory consultation. If necessary, we will contact your treating physician ourselves (at a later date).

Yes, if necessary, we can also organise the conversation via video call or telephone. We often do this for people who are not (yet) mobile or for our international, intercontinental clients. This allows us to discuss who you are and what your goals are in detail. However, we prefer to have the conversation face-to-face, as this makes it easier and more personal! 

We always schedule a live meeting first.

That is not a problem. If you are not (yet) mobile or are already in hospital, you can simply give us a call. We will then see what we can do for you and, at your request, we will be happy to consult with your doctor, nurse, physiotherapist or occupational therapist.

Sometimes we are still able to organise the meeting on site. Our team will then visit you in your room or at a quiet location in the hospital to discuss everything with you and, if necessary, your family. We only do this on request and subject to the availability of our team.

Yes. We even encourage you to bring a partner, family member, companion, caregiver or close friend. Together, you will hear more, find it easier to ask questions and usually feel better supported. This way, you can discuss it again later and you don't have to remember everything yourself. We understand that this can be a lot to take in. Don't worry, because you don't have to go through this process alone.

On average, a pre-operative introductory meeting lasts between 30 and 90 minutes. We take plenty of time to explain everything clearly, answer your questions and discuss any concerns you may have. Sometimes we perform a (free) muscle analysis or biomechanical gait analysis to gain clarity about the possible solutions. There is no time pressure; you are our focus.

Yes, that is usually the intention. We try to ensure that you meet the prosthetist – orthopaedic technologist who will continue to support you after the operation. This creates trust and makes the subsequent collaboration smoother. In some cases, this is not yet possible, but we will ensure a smooth transfer.

No, no final decisions will be made during this consultation. It is an informative and exploratory meeting. You will be explained the options, but the actual measurements will only be taken after the operation, once the residual limb has healed. We wait until your body and the stump have recovered sufficiently to make a perfectly fitting prosthesis for you.

We completely understand. An amputation is not something to be taken lightly. You don't have to know or understand everything right away. The ACC team will help you step by step, at your own pace. We provide a safe environment where emotions are allowed and nothing is mandatory.

Yes, definitely. We can put you in touch with an expert or fellow sufferer who has undergone a similar amputation. This can be extremely valuable! In our experience, hearing from someone who can speak from personal experience about what it is like to live with a prosthesis and what remains possible is often very inspiring.

Ideally, we schedule this introductory meeting as soon as possible after your doctor has discussed amputation with you. This can be during the diagnostic process, but also as soon as it becomes clear that amputation is (probably) necessary. The pre-operative introductory meeting with your prosthetist-orthotist should, as the name suggests, preferably take place before the operation. We recommend that you contact us as soon as possible.

In emergencies (e.g. in the event of a serious accident), there may not be time for this consultation with your future prosthetist. However, even in acute situations, we at Amputee Care Centre are flexible and can even visit you in hospital, subject to request and availability.

At the Amputee Care Centre, every prosthetist – orthopaedic technologist is supported by a team of experts in prosthetics and bioengineering. The introductory consultation usually takes place with a prosthetist-orthopaedic technician or prosthesis coach at our prosthetics centre in Genk (Belgium), but can also take place at your home, rehabilitation centre or hospital if necessary.

Yes. If you would like, after a personal introduction and evaluation, we can put you in touch with someone who has previously undergone an amputation and now lives with a prosthesis. They can share their story with you and give you practical tips. At the Amputee Care Centre (ACC), we often see that this is hugely inspiring in terms of realising what is possible.