The Spaz with Pizazz

On the 1st of November, 2012, I attended a lecture by an ortheopaedic surgeon, Dr Munjed Al Muderis
(http://www.almuderis.com.au/), regarding a little known proceedure called osseointegration that's been used in the rehabilitation of amputees for some years now but has had little publicity. Osseointegration is absolutely facinating and definitely the future way to go for many lower limb amputees. At least that is my opinion and the opinion of a growing number of surgeons and amputees themselves once they see and experience its incredible benefits.

The prosthetic leg has progressed from the wooden peg leg, that is often associated with the pirates of the seas, to the more advanced false leg with bending knee and/or ankle rising from many a bloody war and the need to rehabilitate, if possible, those having lost a limb or two. And from those humble beginnings such limbs were provided to most individuals in more wealthy countries no matter the circumstance of limb lose.

Prosthetics over the past couple of decades have become incredibly light with technology allowing for the manufacture of very light materials to replace prosthetics made of heavy wood or other such heavy materials. But - and it is a big but - lighter materials have not made the commonly known old style prosthetics more user friendly. Eventhough modern prosthetics are light they do not overcome negatives like reducing attachment time; can and do fall off so do not give the wearer a sense of security. Often friction between the amputees stump and padding cause itchiness, irritation, rashes and/or pressure sores; accessive sweating and, infact, in many cases can even make the amputee less mobile. Osseointegration overcomes most of the negatives of old style prosthetics.

Put simply osseointegration is the insertion through thoroughly planned surgery of a titanium-based rod into the hollow cavity of a remaining limb's stub bone and after a stage two surgery an extension is added so it slightly protrudes externally. http://www.osseointegrationaustralia.com.au/ The rod is left there for several weeks to allow for real bone to grow into the titanium-based rod's microscopic mesh-like material and fuse as one and thus becoming a stable and strong internal anchoring for a future external easily attachable and detachable light prosthetic. Attaching the now fused rod to the prosthetic only takes seconds - and seconds to release - instead of the many hours eaten up weekly maintaining and securing a less secure old style prosthetic. No more pressure sores and rashes or falling off of the prosthetic. I was blown away!!

The only real down side at present is the cost to an uninsured amputee. Or the fact that the permanent open wound (stoma) around the rod must be kept clean and may weep a litte so is not suitable for all amputees. But for those using this wonderful technology the negatives are nothing in comparison to the alternative. Many have returned to work and participate in activities they could only dream about. And any infections, which have been remarkable low, arising from such a proceedure have been successfully treated and overcome if that is a concern to some.

Before knowing about osseointegration I'd often wondered why those with useless or badly deformed legs were not generally given amputations and false limbs used if cosmetic concerns were an issue. A removable false leg that can not fall off, such as with osseointegration, is far more preferrable than a dead, useless leg of flesh that inhibits an individual's mobility and may be a cause of extreme pain and increases the risk of morbidity and mortality due to pressure sores and associated complications.

Though this proceedure is initially expensive and would only be appropriate for adult past the growing stage and uncompromised bone structure the money would be recouped over several years due to an individual being able to return to or take up paid work or become partly or totally independent and not relient on tax funded care and assistance through an already strained and very inadequate health system.

The opinions expressed in the above essay are my own and that of Robbie's and may not necessarily agree with the opinions of those associated with rehabilitation of the amputee.

Thanks and keep safe,
Sam Davies.