Quadrilateral Amputee Questions

Doug Wacker, CPO

Description

Title:

Quadrilateral Amputee Questions

Creator:

Doug Wacker, CPO

Date:

2/3/2009

Text:

Thank you ListServe in advance. I have a 36 year old patient who was referred to my office who is a bilateral below elbow amputee, extremely short, almost an elbow disarticulation with bilateral above knee amputations from a house explosion that burned over 95% of his body. He is well healed and has been using a wheelchair for mobility. His skin grafts are intact, those being from cadavers and pigs. He is very active by taking care of his mother by cooking for her, takes care and cleans the horses, yes, horses,?does carpentry work around the house and has taught his mother to do some also. He has two children that he takes care of because his wife left after the accident. She couldn't handle his burns any longer. I must add, he salt water fishes at South Padre and reeled in a 42 Bull Redfish out of the surf by himself with just his residual limbs. He pads his limbs so he can use them to walk around the house. He loves to BBQ and has asked if he can still cook. He also deer !
 hunts.

His immediate needs are his hands to make it easier to cook and do the chores around his home and then his legs to get up and around. He has had Stubbies?for his legs and?tore them up in one year. He would like upper extremity prosthetics to feed himself better so wrist flexion's are definite. With his upper extremities being so short, would it be better to fit him as an above elbow with harnessing for the elbow lock and TD, maybe a bi-valve socket? Or would Step Up Hinges preflexed forearms to take care of himself be better utilized? Remember skin grafts.

On his lower extremities, he will have someone to help him if Silicone liners are used with a 4-bar knee and a locking knee on the other, if that is a possibility. He wants durability and no maintenance. Stubbies will give him better stability and maneuverability. Is that the only option?

I am hoping this will stimulate some expert responses. I will post them as they come in. Again, thank you.


Douglass J. Wacker, CPO, LPO

NUTECH Orthotics & Prosthetics, LLC
2422 E. Tyler Ave., Ste. A
Harlingen, TX. 78550
PH. 956-412-LEGS(5347)
FX. 956-412-3563
E-mail: <Email Address Redacted>
www.nutechoandp.net

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Citation

Doug Wacker, CPO, “Quadrilateral Amputee Questions,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 2, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/230072.