Re: Responses to amputee protocol
Levy, Charles
Description
Collection
Title:
Re: Responses to amputee protocol
Creator:
Levy, Charles
Date:
6/10/2002
Text:
Dear O & Pers,
I was just asked to advise an orthopedic surgeoan on a difficult case. The
patient is a 55 y.o. gentleman who has a fused knee on the right after 3
attempts to revise a R TKA that continually got infected. He is now in
sever pain in his left knee, where the another TKA has not responded to
conservative treatment, and also is continually infected.
This patient has normal to near normal strength in the hip and foot,
although only 2-3/5 strength in th L knee. He currently drives with hand
controls. This patient is able to rise from a chair by simply pushing off
from the arm rests. From here he walks with the aid of forearm crutches.
He is able to ascend and descend stairs using a swiveling motion at the
hips. He only bends his knee a minimal amount in ambulation and stair
climbing.
The surgeon asked me if there was an advantage to an AK amputation as
opposed to fusing the L knee.
I am interested in your opinions. If you think an AK amp is better, what
knee would you recommend?
My feeling is that this patient is already dealing fairly successfully with
one fused knee. I amnot sure that the other fused knee would impose a lot
greater difficulties in terms of difficulty sitting or ambulating. The
patient is using very little knee function now due to pain and weakness. I
am told that the quadricep weakness is due to scarring of of the quads due
to his frequent infections.
Thanks,
Charles E. Levy, MD
I was just asked to advise an orthopedic surgeoan on a difficult case. The
patient is a 55 y.o. gentleman who has a fused knee on the right after 3
attempts to revise a R TKA that continually got infected. He is now in
sever pain in his left knee, where the another TKA has not responded to
conservative treatment, and also is continually infected.
This patient has normal to near normal strength in the hip and foot,
although only 2-3/5 strength in th L knee. He currently drives with hand
controls. This patient is able to rise from a chair by simply pushing off
from the arm rests. From here he walks with the aid of forearm crutches.
He is able to ascend and descend stairs using a swiveling motion at the
hips. He only bends his knee a minimal amount in ambulation and stair
climbing.
The surgeon asked me if there was an advantage to an AK amputation as
opposed to fusing the L knee.
I am interested in your opinions. If you think an AK amp is better, what
knee would you recommend?
My feeling is that this patient is already dealing fairly successfully with
one fused knee. I amnot sure that the other fused knee would impose a lot
greater difficulties in terms of difficulty sitting or ambulating. The
patient is using very little knee function now due to pain and weakness. I
am told that the quadricep weakness is due to scarring of of the quads due
to his frequent infections.
Thanks,
Charles E. Levy, MD
Citation
Levy, Charles, “Re: Responses to amputee protocol,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 27, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/219153.
