Re: Advances in prosthetics give soldier amputees hope
Tony Barr
Description
Collection
Title:
Re: Advances in prosthetics give soldier amputees hope
Creator:
Tony Barr
Date:
5/17/2006
Text:
As a follow up to Steven Fries, LPO O&P Listserve submission and the
workshop recently held at Brooke Medical Center in Fort Sam Houston, Texas,
more than the advancemet of prosthetic technology was on the agenda.
Of the nearly 400 soldiers who have lost limbs in the Iraq war, only a few
dozen have been able to return to combat.
Most simply aspire to resume a normal life, to be able to play with their
kids or take a stroll with their spouse.
What the press fails to mention are that many of those amputees returning to
active duty, including Marine Sergeant Chris Chandler, the first to return
to the front line, are Ertl amputees.
Most all the 'super' amputees in the O&P media advertisements, selling
manufacture's components, are Ertl amputees.
It remains amazing to me that advances and applications in amputation
surgery and advances and applications in prosthetic technology are not
discussed in the same framing as THE' only means to obtain optimal
prosthetic rehabilitation outcomes, particularly in light of the Mayo Clinic
report that concludes that there has been no significant amputation surgical
techniques advancement in the past 40 years.
See <URL Redacted>
What was left out of the Houston Chronicle May 13, 2006 article, written by
JOHN W. GONZALEZ ,was the importance of receiving proper amputation surgery
as the foundation to obtain full and successful prosthetic outcomes.
Matthew Henderson of OSSUR North America, presented his own experience and
benefits with the Ertl procedure at the Brooke Army MAAST (Military Amputee
Advance Skills Training) Workshop recently held in Fort Sam Houston ,Texas.
It didn't make the news since the focus was AGAIN on the ADVANCEMENTS OF
PROSTHETICS.
Brooke Army Medical Center is a modern state-of-the-art, 450-bed health care
facility that provides level-one trauma and graduate medical education. The
physical appearance and the efficiency of space throughout the hospital
creates a user-friendly, high quality health care environment for patients,
their families and health care providers. In addition, a state of the art
facility called the Center for the Intrepid is under construction at Brooke,
which may well be the world's most advanced Amputee rehabilitation center in
the world. (probably is-not maybe)
The workshop was designed to bring amputees, prosthetists, physical
therapists and other military, VA and other medical personnel together for
education and rehabilitation purposes. A large part of the workshop was to
educate attendees about the advanced prosthetics that are available and the
gait training techniques that are used. Many soldiers will be working with
VA and civilian prosthetists and therapists in the future and this was a
chance to bring military, VA personnel, and civilian professionals together.
The presentation was titled, Life as an Athlete with an Amputation.
Matt's presentation was of his initial accident in 1999 and how he went
through a rehabilitation process that consisted of the surgeries leading up
to his amputation as well as the Ertl revision surgery in 2004. Mr.
Henderson wrapped up his presentation with a list of some of the
activities that he has been able to participate in as a result if my his
reconstructed limb, advanced prosthetics, and rehabilitation; explaining
that all those factors must be part of the total package. It was well
received and there was a some interest on the methods of amputation that are
currently used. Soldiers and medical staff and VA personnel got a lot out
of the 3 day workshop.
Read more about Matt Henderson's experiences and other Ertl Amputees at
www.ErtlReconstruction.com and remember you have to start with a sound and
basic foundation for a limb before application of today's prosthetic
technology to achieve optimal prosthetic outcomes. Its not just about
prosthetic components.
I think all amputees, military or civilian, athletes or strollers,want and
deserve to achieve optimal prosthetic rehabilitaion outcomes .Prosthetists
often have to deal with whatever the surgeon gives them.
Thank you Matthew for sending the message.
Anthony T. Barr
Barr Foundation
www.oandp.com/barr
www.ertlreconstruction.com
561-394-6514
********************
To unsubscribe, send a message to: <Email Address Redacted> with
the words UNSUB OANDP-L in the body of the
message.
If you have a problem unsubscribing,or have other
questions, send e-mail to the moderator
Paul E. Prusakowski,CPO at <Email Address Redacted>
OANDP-L is a forum for the discussion of topics
related to Orthotics and Prosthetics.
Public commercial postings are forbidden. Responses to inquiries
should not be sent to the entire oandp-l list. Professional credentials
or affiliations should be used in all communications.
workshop recently held at Brooke Medical Center in Fort Sam Houston, Texas,
more than the advancemet of prosthetic technology was on the agenda.
Of the nearly 400 soldiers who have lost limbs in the Iraq war, only a few
dozen have been able to return to combat.
Most simply aspire to resume a normal life, to be able to play with their
kids or take a stroll with their spouse.
What the press fails to mention are that many of those amputees returning to
active duty, including Marine Sergeant Chris Chandler, the first to return
to the front line, are Ertl amputees.
Most all the 'super' amputees in the O&P media advertisements, selling
manufacture's components, are Ertl amputees.
It remains amazing to me that advances and applications in amputation
surgery and advances and applications in prosthetic technology are not
discussed in the same framing as THE' only means to obtain optimal
prosthetic rehabilitation outcomes, particularly in light of the Mayo Clinic
report that concludes that there has been no significant amputation surgical
techniques advancement in the past 40 years.
See <URL Redacted>
What was left out of the Houston Chronicle May 13, 2006 article, written by
JOHN W. GONZALEZ ,was the importance of receiving proper amputation surgery
as the foundation to obtain full and successful prosthetic outcomes.
Matthew Henderson of OSSUR North America, presented his own experience and
benefits with the Ertl procedure at the Brooke Army MAAST (Military Amputee
Advance Skills Training) Workshop recently held in Fort Sam Houston ,Texas.
It didn't make the news since the focus was AGAIN on the ADVANCEMENTS OF
PROSTHETICS.
Brooke Army Medical Center is a modern state-of-the-art, 450-bed health care
facility that provides level-one trauma and graduate medical education. The
physical appearance and the efficiency of space throughout the hospital
creates a user-friendly, high quality health care environment for patients,
their families and health care providers. In addition, a state of the art
facility called the Center for the Intrepid is under construction at Brooke,
which may well be the world's most advanced Amputee rehabilitation center in
the world. (probably is-not maybe)
The workshop was designed to bring amputees, prosthetists, physical
therapists and other military, VA and other medical personnel together for
education and rehabilitation purposes. A large part of the workshop was to
educate attendees about the advanced prosthetics that are available and the
gait training techniques that are used. Many soldiers will be working with
VA and civilian prosthetists and therapists in the future and this was a
chance to bring military, VA personnel, and civilian professionals together.
The presentation was titled, Life as an Athlete with an Amputation.
Matt's presentation was of his initial accident in 1999 and how he went
through a rehabilitation process that consisted of the surgeries leading up
to his amputation as well as the Ertl revision surgery in 2004. Mr.
Henderson wrapped up his presentation with a list of some of the
activities that he has been able to participate in as a result if my his
reconstructed limb, advanced prosthetics, and rehabilitation; explaining
that all those factors must be part of the total package. It was well
received and there was a some interest on the methods of amputation that are
currently used. Soldiers and medical staff and VA personnel got a lot out
of the 3 day workshop.
Read more about Matt Henderson's experiences and other Ertl Amputees at
www.ErtlReconstruction.com and remember you have to start with a sound and
basic foundation for a limb before application of today's prosthetic
technology to achieve optimal prosthetic outcomes. Its not just about
prosthetic components.
I think all amputees, military or civilian, athletes or strollers,want and
deserve to achieve optimal prosthetic rehabilitaion outcomes .Prosthetists
often have to deal with whatever the surgeon gives them.
Thank you Matthew for sending the message.
Anthony T. Barr
Barr Foundation
www.oandp.com/barr
www.ertlreconstruction.com
561-394-6514
********************
To unsubscribe, send a message to: <Email Address Redacted> with
the words UNSUB OANDP-L in the body of the
message.
If you have a problem unsubscribing,or have other
questions, send e-mail to the moderator
Paul E. Prusakowski,CPO at <Email Address Redacted>
OANDP-L is a forum for the discussion of topics
related to Orthotics and Prosthetics.
Public commercial postings are forbidden. Responses to inquiries
should not be sent to the entire oandp-l list. Professional credentials
or affiliations should be used in all communications.
Citation
Tony Barr, “Re: Advances in prosthetics give soldier amputees hope,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 2, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/226445.
