Description
In this segment from a conference presentation, Louise McMenemy discusses her work on a follow-up study regarding military personnel who have undergone bilateral above-knee osseointegration surgery. With a minimum of two years of follow-up data for seven patients, Louise highlights the collaborative efforts of the research team and the ongoing rehabilitation at the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre. She outlines significant improvements in mobility, revealing that prior to surgery, these young amputees, many in their 20s and 30s, were largely wheelchair-bound with limited mobility. Post-operatively, there have been substantial improvements, including enhanced walking distances and timeliness in mobility tests. Louise emphasizes the importance of this surgery in restoring normal life activities for these individuals, while also addressing some complications related to stoma management. The results suggest that despite initial concerns over potential infection risks due to polymicrobial colonization, the outcomes have been largely positive, allowing for a greater quality of life for the amputees.
DOI: 10.1302/3114-221502