The Patient Pathway

The Patient Pathway for Treatment by the Relimb™ Team

The care you need in one streamlined service.

We know that losing a body part is a traumatic life event. Whether you have lost a limb, part of your hand or part of your face, navigating the surgery and rehabilitation you need to improve the quality of your life can be a complicated and time-consuming process

One of our core beliefs is that integrated support leads to better physical and emotional outcomes. Our unique model simplifies your access to care, helping you to select from a range of surgical and non-surgical treatments that work together seamlessly.

Take a closer look at our simple pathway

Step 1: Referral

We welcome referrals from any source in the United Kingdom or the world. Referrals often come from within the rehabilitation community, so your trusted therapist, prosthetist, case manager, or solicitor may recommend that you talk to us.

Step 2: Multidisciplinary team (MDT) Clinic

Following your referral, you will be invited to one of our MDT clinics. Here, you can talk to the Relimb team, including our rehabilitation partners (Dorset Orthopaedic), our psychologist and our anaesthetist. You may also wish to bring the person who referred you so they can share their unique perspectives on your particular needs.

After careful consideration, we will provide you with recommendations and a detailed plan based on the independent opinions of our MDT.

Step 3: Surgery

Find out what to expect from surgery by looking at the upper and lower limb osseointegration (OI), hand OI, and facial OI pages. You can also find out more about the backgrounds of the surgeons who will be performing your procedure here

Step 4: Rehabilitation

If you elect to undergo major upper or lower limb OI, you will receive your rehabilitation support from our partners at Dorset Orthopaedic. Click here for an overview of the rehabilitation process under the care of the Dorset Orthopaedic team

If you are having OI on your hand or face, you can decide whether to work with Dorset Orthopaedic or your current rehabilitation provider for your next steps.

Step 5: Reviews (major limb only)

After OI surgery, we will welcome you back to Relimb for regular reviews, usually at 3 months and 12 months after surgery. At the 12-month review, we will monitor the progress of your osseointegrated implant with plain X-rays, CT scans and a DEXA scan.

FAQs

If I decide to have OI after a major limb (arm or leg) amputation, do I have to continue using Dorset Orthopaedic for my rehabilitation?

We have worked with Dorset Orthopaedic for many years and are confident that they have the experience and resources to provide you with the best rehabilitation support. Dorset Orthopaedic will be responsible for your initial rehabilitation, and this needs to continue for at least 3 months following surgery. Once you are fully weight-bearing through your implant and prosthesis, you can return to your original rehabilitation provider if you wish. Alternatively, you can continue working with Dorset Orthopaedic.

Can standard health insurance such as BUPA or AXA cover the cost of my initial consultation?

Due to the nature of our procedures, most insurers will not cover the cost of a consultation with Relimb. Our treatments are also so specialist that they lie outside the standard insurance codes that are currently recognised. This means you will need to fund any consultations through your own means.