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Carol’s new socket saved her from surgery!

After many years of living with pain and limited mobility, Carol came to George for a second opinion.

George and Carol first met in May of 2021. She lives with Bilateral Symes Amputations and was experiencing significant knee pain. Doctors were recommending bilateral knee replacement surgery to possibly ease her pain and she was hesitant.

Prosthetic solutions for increased mobility.

George observed that Carol’s pain was exacerbated by the alignment of her bi-lateral Symes prostheses and the knee flexion contractures she had developed. The construction of new sockets with the correct alignment enabled Carol to have her foot flat on the ground. She now has added stability while ambulating and has less pain in her knees. Over approximately 10 appointments with George that included measurements, adaptations and adjustments, she was satisfied with the fit and function and was able to take her prostheses home.

It took her whole life to find the help she needed.

Congenital amputees are one of the most difficult population of patients to work with. A prosthetist needs the experience to recognize that the anatomy in regard to bone structure, nerve innervation, muscular presence and function is often abnormal. As lifelong amputees, congenital patients are very tuned in to how they feel their prosthesis should function, and it is our job to help them reach those goals with the proper device.

Learn more about Practitioner George and his congenital limb experience.

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Resources and Reading for Congenital Limb Patients and Families

Syme Amputation, what is it?

https://www.footcaremd.org/conditions-treatments/injections-and-other-treatments/syme-amputation

Why some people choose not to wear a prosthesis:

https://www.armdynamics.com/upper-limb-library/why-do-some-people-choose-not-to-wear-a-prosthesis

Congenital Differences resources – blogs – podcasts

National and state resources:

https://new-horizons.org/cmtamp.html

Parents of children with limb loss resources:

https://www.armdynamics.com/upper-limb-library/resources-for-parents-of-children-with-upper-limb-differences-or-limb-loss

Lucky Fin Project (kids):

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