Amputees can now walk step over step UP THE STAIRS due to advances in prosthetic knee joints.

The technology used to create prostheses is becoming more advance and many patients are taking advantage of this by getting microprocessor knee joints (computerized knees) over the stance control knee (safety knee) because the more natural movement and safety factors. Over the years, people have had several types of stance control knee joints to choose from. These knees included:

• The safety type knee
• The total knee
• Hydraulic and pneumatic type knees

These knees have always been pretty safe, but sometimes that doesn’t give the action along with the safety and allow a patient to walk the way they want to.

The microprocessor knee joint allows a more natural gait pattern along with the safety that a patient feels. The way the microprocessor knees work is that they basically have a computer built in the knee and it monitors the action of the knee when a patient walks. It gives a smoother swing and if a patient would start to stumble when waking because their knee isn’t straight, the knee can recognize it and slow down so the patient can catch themselves and keep from falling. Also, amputees are now able to walk up and down ramps, and stairs more confidently with the constant monitoring abilities of the microprocessor knee. This is achieved because the processor will not allow the knee to go into free swing until certain parameters are met. The knees are programmed specifically to the patient that is going to be wearing it and for the specific type of walking he or she does.

The manual working knee joints, works off when the patient puts there weight on the knees. This is not to say that these knees are not good, but the microprocessor can be more beneficial to the patient. Every amputee is different, so it’s not to say that everyone should have a microprocessor knee joint. Some patients are not candidates for microprocessor knees due to specific physical factors, activity level, or simply due to preference. The Prosthetist should work with the patient to decide what works the best. If your patient wants to walk or walk better, ask his or her prosthetist about what knee would be best for him or her. The following are articles discussing the advantages of the microprocessor knee:

• Prosthetic Knee Systems
• Microprocessor Knees
• Prosthetic Knee Technology

 Give your patient the chance to use the most innovative technology! Schedule an appointment with a prosthetist at Central Brace & Limb Co., 1-800-277-LIMB

Hear from one our Certified Fitters about her first hand experience working with children at Riley Children’s Hospital.

In the past 2 years I have had the pleasure of seeing and measuring burn patients at Riley Children’s Hospital . When I first started going out there, I wasn’t sure what to expect and I was in for a big surprise! 

It is amazing to see how the burn garments work differently on each patient. When the garment is used in conjunction with scar management exercises given by the Physical & Occupational Therapists.   The garments are usually put on once the burns have healed and are no longer open wounds. The burn garments are worn 23 hours a day taking them off for bathing and washing the garment out. They help with healing the tissue, prevent hypertrophic and keloid scaring and burn contractures.  Most of the kids have some type of skin grafting done as well, depending on the degree of the burn.

I enjoy seeing the kids and it is very rewarding being apart of their treatment team. We are there to help the kids get better and to try to make their situation as bearable as possible. The garments that we order come in many different colors. The kids cannot only choose their own color but they can also have different characters or pictures added to the garments. It’s just one more way for them to tolerate wearing the garment. These kids definitely have made an impact on me and it is an honor to help them in the journey to recovery.

Contact Central Brace & Limb, 1-800-277-LIMB for more information on how we can help become part of a treatment team for your patient. In the worst of situations, we know that smiles are an integral part of the healing process!

“The earlier a program of tubular compression bandaging is begun post-operatively, the sooner swelling will subside and tissues can be properly supported and correctly molded to a shape acceptable for prosthetic fitting.”-William M. Brady, C.P.O

Edema is unavoidable in a postoperative limb and is matter of concern to all who are involved in the post-operative care of amputees. Failure to provide the patient with the proper compression bandage after surgery delays the rehabilitation process, including the fitting of the definitive prosthesis. Field testing at Isle Orthotics-Prosthetic Services in Kansas City, Missouri along with research done at Kansas University Medical Center proved that tubular elastic compression bandages proved best among other alternatives such as the commonly used elastic wrap which failed to provide continuous pressure, easy application, and durability. Tubular elastic bandaging proved more beneficial by:

• Providing consistent pressure over a prolonged period of usage

• Providing easier application to patients and family members

• Exerting a pressure which is in the “ideal” range, between 15-30mmHg as measured by a solid state pressure transducer.

Real help from real people is what a peer support group is all about. Central Brace & Limb has started up an amputee support group and it has produced very good results. Our company has started support groups in the Terre Haute area and is getting good turn outs and good feedback from the participants.

The groups are designed to have fellow amputees to sit around and discuss personal experiences and ask questions about concerns, challenges, and accomplishments. The attendees range from amputees that have been amputated for years, to amputees that are new and haven’t received any type of prosthesis yet. The meetings are designed to inform and help amputees with questions of everyday situations. They are not any type of pity party, but they inform and empower.

For example, one particular amputee was having problems with tenderness over his shin when he wore the prosthesis; he wasn’t getting pressure or rubbing, but was just tender. Another amputee was having the same problem for years and found an over the counter lotion to use that corrected the problem. This is just one example of how fellow amputees and help one and other.

Have your patient contact us for more information on how to GET CONNECTED! 1-800-277-LIMB.  Also stay tune to our blogs for more information about the dates and time of future meetings. Central Brace & Limb is continually starting new support groups around the state of Indiana in areas such as Bloomington and Kokomo. Just remember, we schedule the meetings, but patients are the ones that make the meetings successful.

When a person is considering an Elective Amputation, no matter the underlying cause, a rehab support team is an effective approach to help make an educated decision.

In our practice we often hear patients ask ” if I only made this decision earlier; why did I wait; why did they not tell me?”.  They are referring to the decision to have an amputation.  Many amputees feel they are under informed about why they need an amputation, and what they should expect once the amputation is done.  Although there is a wide range of reasons as to why a person may need an amputation, for the most part, the follow up care is the same.

In  non-life threatning situations, a rehab support team made up of a surgeon, a physical therapist, a prosthetist, and a peer support member can explain to the patient and his or her family that limb loss can present a new threshold of possibilites.  It gives them an honest and clear picture of what life with an amputation will be like.

Losing a limb has been said to be like losing a member of the family.  Educating a patient prior to ampuation allows them to start the grieving process before the surgery.  It often results in the patient to be able to look ahead once the surgery is done and focus on therapy.

If you are interested in partnering with Central Brace and Limb and becoming part of the Central Brace Yourself program please contact us, 1-800-277-LIMB.  This program is designed to bring all medical professionals together with the goal of aiding prosthetic and orthotic patients live a more active and productive life.

Most patients will benefit from post-op casting to help prevent injury to their stumps and to promote faster healing.

Once a patient is amputated below the knee, there is a very high risk of falling and injuring the stump. Post-op casting or rigid removable dressing, (RRD) will help that from happening by providing a hard protective covering. After surgery, patients have a tendency to forget they are amputated and will try to stand normally, which causes them to fall. Patients will usually fall to the amputated side causing bruising or even splitting the incision open.

The best and most simple treatment would be to apply a RRD. The RRD can be applied at the completion of amputation in surgery or within a day or two after surgery. The easiest way to make a rigid removable dressing is by using casting material. The cast is made on the patient with enough room that he or she can remove it, but it is snug enough to stay put and provide protection. It is held on with a strap so that when the patient’s stump reduces in size, the RRD will still stay on for protection. These RRD are usually below the knee so the patient can still bend their knee.

The RRD also aids in healing due to the use of a stump shrinker that is usually worn under, which can accelerated the shrinking process, but if a stump shrinker is not worn, the RRD still helps in shrinking and shaping the stump.

There are a couple different types of post-op dressing, which are prefabricated out of plastic or other materials. For example, Ossur has come out with a vacuum formed RRD that is great for post-op patients that still may be in the hospital or are still pretty sedentary.

Patients that get RRD’s usually heal faster due to the compression of the RRD. Contact Central Brace & Limb Co., 1-800-277-LIMB to meet with or talk to one of our expert Prosthetists about the benefits of a rigid removable dressing.

The answer is, in a couple of hours!

Central Brace & Limb Co. uses a system by Ossur called a modular socket system. This system is for below knee amputees. The process can be done at any of our locations or if the need arises, it can be done at hospitals, nursing homes, rehab centers or even a patient’s home.

The process begins when the patient is first fitted with a silicone or gel liner that is set for a shuttle lock suspension. Once that is fitted, the prosthetist starts the process of laminating a socket directly to the patient. The prosthetist then applies, a fiberglass or carbon (depending on the patient’s needs) pre-assembled soft socket.

After the soft socket has been applied, the socket is then completed and readied for the lamination. The prosthetist then injects the socket material with a resin, which will make the socket hard and ready for the patient to wear. It takes about 15 minutes for the resin to set up. Once it’s hard, the prosthetist removes the socket and then trims it out so the patient will have full range of motion in their knee. Once the socket is trimmed, the final components are added, such as the shuttle lock, foot, and any hardware that is needed. The prosthesis is then refitted and aligned for the patient to allow them to walk up to their capability.

From start to finish, the process can take 2 to 3 hours with an end result of the patient walking out of the office with the prosthesis. As with most prostheses, the patient’s condition and weight can determine if he or she is right for this prosthesis. Most patients will fall within the guidelines and will be able to get this prosthesis.

If you’re a patient, physician, physical therapist, please contact Central Brace & Limb Co., 1-800-277-LIMB, for details about the modular socket system and how you can walk out of our office with your very own prosthesis in 3 hours!

Individuals who have undergone amputation at or above the knee about 30 years ago were said to have had an overall mortality rate 1.4 times greater than non-amputees and a mortality rate from cardiovascular diseases almost 1.7 times as large. 

It is believed that the sedentary lifestyle that is not uncommon to many amputees at the time was a contributing factor.  This is one of many reasons that doctors and prosthetists have come to believe that physical activity is very important for amputees.  Regular participation in physical activity is also responsible for improved strength, cardiopulmonary endurance, muscle coordination, and balance in amputees.  Additionally, participation in competitive athletics is thought to be linked to the improvement of coping behavior, cognitive abilities, mood, psychological well-being, self-confidence and self-esteem.

Over the years, a large number of organizations have evolved to encourage amputee participation in organized athletics.  In addition, many of these groups were motivated by amputees who were athletes prior to their amputations and did not want to stop participating in their sport.  The most notable of athletic competitions for disabled athletes is the Paralympics.  Started in 1960 in England for spinal cord injury patients, the Paralympics evolved in 1976 to include other disabilities, and namely limb deficient athletes – athletes with prostheses.  The Paralympics are coordinated with the Olympics in time and place and include athletes from over 120 countries.

If you have a patient or an amputee who would like to return an active lifestyle that includes physical activity please call Central Brace & Limb Co., 1-800-277-LIMB.  One of our qualified staff members with an extensive background in exercise physiology and biomechanics would be happy to help.