Q: My friend's uncle (age 50 years) had his leg amputated from the middle of the thigh some months back. Can an artificial leg be implanted on this leg or can a functionally artificial leg be used? What will be the expenses and will it be helpful?

A:Yes, an artificial leg can be fitted on your friend's uncle. The word used is fitting and not implanting. The cost varies widely depending on the type of prosthesis (Artificial limb) used. Ranging from around Rs. 6,000/- to over a lakh for the imported ones. Yes, certainly they are functional. Fitting must be done by a professional person and gait training is important in such patients.