A blast injury survivor in Sri Lanka today is more likely to lose a leg to amputation than to have it saved—and this grant aims to change that by developing low-cost surgical tools and training to salvage limbs that would otherwise be cut off. The problem is that in post-conflict countries, surgeons often amputate limbs that could be saved, because they lack the specialised instruments, training, and decision-making frameworks needed for complex limb salvage. This project addresses that gap by identifying which injuries are being amputated unnecessarily, then creating simple, affordable bespoke implants and surgical techniques appropriate for blast injuries anywhere in the world. If successful, the research could transform trauma surgery in low-resource settings. Surgeons in Sri Lanka, Lebanon, and other landmine-affected nations would gain remote training and access to low-cost devices that maximise limb preservation. This would reduce lifelong disability, lower healthcare costs, and build lasting surgical capacity in countries where such expertise is scarce. The work also creates a permanent research partnership between UK engineers and local clinicians, ensuring the knowledge stays after international NGOs leave.
View original technical description
We seek to identify the types of injuries that have led to early amputation and are amenable to salvage and to develop and to clinically deploy technology, in partnership with Sri Lanka (SL), for limb salvage and limb regeneration that will be appropriate wherever blast injuries occur. Our research questions are to: identify patient and injury characteristics that have led to early avoidable amputation (WP1); provide immediate surgeon education for limb salvage/amputation using state of the art techniques (WP2); and develop simple, low cost bespoke instruments and implantable devices to maximise the extent of limb salvage (WP3 & 4). INSTITUTION FIT AND SUPPORT Imperial College’s (IC) strategy aims to improve the health of all in society in the UK and worldwide. The Centre for Blast Injury Studies (CBIS, currently funded until 2022), which forms the foundations for this proposal and ensures a sustainable structure for continuity of the proposed Group’s activities, epitomises IC’s ethos of multidisciplinary research excellence, and is uniquely placed to deliver the College’s mission of technological advancement in core engineering disciplines and cross disciplinary engagement to address societal needs in the field of health. IC’s commitment to the biomedical engineering field is evidenced by the Michael Uren Biomedical Engineering Research Hub, a 13-floor development with state-of-the-art laboratory, clinic, and office facilities currently under construction. Imperial recognises the importance of collaboration with external partners and through such global connections believes its excellence and breadth of knowledge can inform key decision makers for the benefit of society. GROWING CAPABILITY Health risks and long term clinical needs are not always addressed or identified in post conflict countries; injury is dealt with rapidly focusing on immediate preservation of life. Universities focus primarily on the education of the young, and research sits low on the list of expenditure. Transitory NGOs identify lessons during their time in these countries, but these lessons can go unlearned by those who stay behind. Growing capability for the benefit of the poorest in SL is embedded at all levels within this proposal. Our key mechanism for achieving this is to create a single research group between the UK, SL, and Lebanon, with engineers, clinicians and scientists from each location working together. Training is included at all levels with courses in the UK, SL, and development of technologies for remote training for advanced surgery. The UoM has recently introduced a biomedical engineering programme and research interest group. This proposal will strengthen this interest group through sharing of expertise, two-way visits and two-way placements, further supporting the development of UoM as a regional centre of excellence in translational biomedical engineering wherein local researchers are enabled to address problems of local interest and relevance. PROGRAMME Our four Work Packages (WP) provide a management structure, a focus on capacity building, education and training, and structured research across the three main locations. WP1 Data, Management, Capacity, Sustainability and Policy (Bull/Burke/Karunaratne/Abu-Sittah/Clasper) We will perform capacity building activities, maintain records, manage communications, run and organise meetings and secondments, provide project and alliance management support, coordinate academic investigators and manage finances and reporting. Under WP1 we will generate data to help create a predictive model for amputation following blast injury. We will utilise key databases available to CBIS through the military. A second dataset will be derived through surveying SL clinicians in order to identify their specific training needs. We will also survey the network of trauma surgeons established across 9 nations affected by landmines, with a specific focus on sharing data with the
Plain English summaries and category classifications on this site are generated by AI and may not perfectly reflect the original research.
Is something wrong? Let us know