Pediatric Upper-Limb referrals
Jan Stokosa
Description
Collection
Title:
Pediatric Upper-Limb referrals
Creator:
Jan Stokosa
Date:
2/28/2001
Text:
To my Prosthetist Colleagues,
I am writing to tell you of an invaluable service one of our colleagues provides in the sub-specialty of pediatric upper-limb myoelectric prosthetic fitting. If your practice is similar to mine, you might see only a handful of patients in this category in your entire career.
I've practiced Clinical Prosthetics for 34 years and have the honor, and enjoyment, of treating patients from all of the United States and other countries. My practice has covered the spectrum of amputation levels, and the associated challenges - infants with congenital and acquired amputation, the aged, cases involving complex multiple amputations, and the very active, competitive athlete. For the past three years, I have chosen to specialize exclusively on people with amputations of the leg (trans-tibio/fibular level). My friend and clinical associate takes care of people with other levels of amputation. I found that I was able to focus my attention much more intently, thereby achieving greater results.
Likewise, Carl Brenner, C.P.O. chose to specialize in upper-limb pediatric prosthetics in 1982. He has fit hundreds of infants and children with electronic prostheses, regardless of the insurance coverage. This is possible because he has been able to secure alternative sources of funding, eliminating all out-of-pocket prosthetic expenses for over 90% of the families. This is a tremendous help to these needy kids and families.
I've referred a number of cases to Carl; the most recent was a young boy from Haiti with bilateral shoulder disarticulation. Although my associate and I have fit many upper-limb amputees of all ages, we had not seen such a case and didn't feel it best to practice on this boy. Technology had advanced beyond our expertise in this area and it was in the patient's best interest to refer him to a specialist like Carl (I've since learned that about 400 children are born each year in the U.S. with an upper-limb deficiency that might benefit from prosthetic intervention. If these 400 cases were equally distributed to the approximate 2000 Prosthetists, each of us would see one such case every five years).
I have referred cases to John Billock, C.P.O., and a specialist in Upper-Limb Prosthetics as well, with outstanding results, and there may very well be others that I am not aware of. The pediatric specialty, and the funding assistance is what make this referral exceptionally helpful to all.
Professionally, and respectfully, I offer this information for you to consider when encountering such cases. I have been very pleased with the results of my referrals, the parents have been more pleased - and maybe most important, the children have grown to experience a fuller life.
You may contact Carl Brenner, C.P.O. at 800-242-ARMS
Yours in Health & Prosthetics
Jan Stokosa, C.P.
I am writing to tell you of an invaluable service one of our colleagues provides in the sub-specialty of pediatric upper-limb myoelectric prosthetic fitting. If your practice is similar to mine, you might see only a handful of patients in this category in your entire career.
I've practiced Clinical Prosthetics for 34 years and have the honor, and enjoyment, of treating patients from all of the United States and other countries. My practice has covered the spectrum of amputation levels, and the associated challenges - infants with congenital and acquired amputation, the aged, cases involving complex multiple amputations, and the very active, competitive athlete. For the past three years, I have chosen to specialize exclusively on people with amputations of the leg (trans-tibio/fibular level). My friend and clinical associate takes care of people with other levels of amputation. I found that I was able to focus my attention much more intently, thereby achieving greater results.
Likewise, Carl Brenner, C.P.O. chose to specialize in upper-limb pediatric prosthetics in 1982. He has fit hundreds of infants and children with electronic prostheses, regardless of the insurance coverage. This is possible because he has been able to secure alternative sources of funding, eliminating all out-of-pocket prosthetic expenses for over 90% of the families. This is a tremendous help to these needy kids and families.
I've referred a number of cases to Carl; the most recent was a young boy from Haiti with bilateral shoulder disarticulation. Although my associate and I have fit many upper-limb amputees of all ages, we had not seen such a case and didn't feel it best to practice on this boy. Technology had advanced beyond our expertise in this area and it was in the patient's best interest to refer him to a specialist like Carl (I've since learned that about 400 children are born each year in the U.S. with an upper-limb deficiency that might benefit from prosthetic intervention. If these 400 cases were equally distributed to the approximate 2000 Prosthetists, each of us would see one such case every five years).
I have referred cases to John Billock, C.P.O., and a specialist in Upper-Limb Prosthetics as well, with outstanding results, and there may very well be others that I am not aware of. The pediatric specialty, and the funding assistance is what make this referral exceptionally helpful to all.
Professionally, and respectfully, I offer this information for you to consider when encountering such cases. I have been very pleased with the results of my referrals, the parents have been more pleased - and maybe most important, the children have grown to experience a fuller life.
You may contact Carl Brenner, C.P.O. at 800-242-ARMS
Yours in Health & Prosthetics
Jan Stokosa, C.P.
Citation
Jan Stokosa, “Pediatric Upper-Limb referrals,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 5, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/215943.
