King Fahad Medical City in Riyadh marked Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month with an educational and awareness-focused activity highlighting the importance of coordinated amputation rehabilitation, prosthetic readiness and inclusive support for people living with limb loss and limb difference.
The activity, held on 29 April 2026, formed part of the wider April awareness month dedicated to raising visibility, reducing stigma and promoting inclusion for people with limb loss and limb difference. Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month is recognised each April by organisations and advocates seeking to highlight lived experience, rehabilitation access, community support and the importance of equitable care.
Dr. Albaraa Mubarak Alsaedi, a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation physician at King Fahad Medical City, shared that she was proud to participate in the event alongside colleagues. The activity provided an opportunity to present the Amputation Program at King Fahad Medical City and to explain the broad spectrum of patients, clinical needs and rehabilitation pathways involved in amputation care.
The presentation focused on several core elements of effective amputation rehabilitation, including early assessment, structured rehabilitation, coordinated care, prosthetic readiness, functional training and the management of common complications. These included pain, contractures, skin issues and mobility limitations.
The themes align closely with the Rehabilitation Hospital at King Fahad Medical City, which describes its services as acute holistic rehabilitation delivered through interdisciplinary rehabilitation programmes. KFMC’s Rehabilitation Hospital states that medical, nursing, clinical and administrative teams work together to help patients achieve their maximum potential according to individual treatment plans.
KFMC’s own Amputation Rehabilitation Program also describes amputation care as requiring a comprehensive, coordinated and interdisciplinary approach across the continuum of care. The programme notes that limb loss may result from causes including vascular disease, diabetes, trauma, congenital limb deficiency, infection or surgery.
For the prosthetic, orthotic and rehabilitation community across Saudi Arabia and the wider IMEA region, the event reinforces a key message: amputation rehabilitation is not limited to prosthetic fitting. It begins early, often before the patient is ready for a prosthesis, and continues through wound healing, residual limb care, pain management, strengthening, contracture prevention, balance training, gait training, psychological adjustment, family education and long-term follow-up.
Prosthetic readiness is one of the most important stages in this pathway. A patient may need medical stability, appropriate residual limb shape, skin integrity, pain control, joint range of motion, sufficient strength and realistic functional goals before prosthetic fitting can begin. When this process is rushed or fragmented, patients may face higher risks of discomfort, rejection of the device, reduced function or delayed reintegration into daily life.
The event also emphasised the value of holistic, team-based care. For people with limb loss, recovery is physical, psychological, social and functional. A successful programme must support independence, confidence and quality of life, not only walking or device use. That requires collaboration between physiatrists, prosthetists, orthotists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, nurses, psychologists, social workers, surgeons, wound-care teams and families.
This message is especially relevant across the IMEA region, where amputation may be linked to diabetes, peripheral vascular disease, trauma, road traffic injuries, conflict-related injuries and congenital limb difference. In many settings, access to comprehensive rehabilitation remains uneven, and patients may encounter delays in referral, limited prosthetic coverage, transport barriers, cost challenges or lack of follow-up support.
Awareness activities such as the KFMC event help shift the conversation from disability as a single medical episode to rehabilitation as a long-term pathway. They also help educate healthcare professionals, patients, families and the wider community about what good amputation care should include: early assessment, coordinated rehabilitation planning, appropriate prosthetic prescription, functional training and ongoing support for real-world participation.
Dr. Alsaedi also expressed appreciation to Dr. Fayez Alshehri and Dr. Maha bin Edrees for their support and dedication. Their involvement reflects the leadership role that specialist rehabilitation teams can play in improving care pathways and advocating for people with limb loss.
For IMEA CPO readers, the KFMC initiative is a reminder that effective prosthetic outcomes depend on more than the device itself. The strongest results come when prosthetic care is integrated into a structured rehabilitation system that prepares the patient, supports the clinical team and follows the individual beyond the fitting room.
As Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month continues to gain visibility globally, regional institutions such as King Fahad Medical City have an important role to play in advancing awareness, improving access and strengthening multidisciplinary rehabilitation practice. The ultimate goal is not only restored mobility, but restored confidence, dignity, participation and quality of life.