Osseointegration UK

All amputees are potential candidates for osseointegration. However, certain conditions such as age, smoking, ongoing chemotherapy, irradiated bone, ongoing infections, pregnancy, and psychological instability are regarded as additional risk factors to this procedure. Patients with diabetes and peripheral vascular disease are still eligible for consideration but will require extra precautions during the evaluation

• Above knee amputation
• Below knee amputation
• Above elbow amputation
• Below elbow amputation
• Digital/Finger amputation

Swimming in a pool, especially salt water or the sea, is highly recommended, as it helps to maintain stoma health. However, patients should minimize swimming in public pools, particularly those that are at risk of children defecating or urinating inside. Patients who swim in a public pool should ensure that the stoma is well rinsed when leaving the pool. Taking a bath with bathing salts is recommended from time to time, as this helps to treat muscle pain and prevent the accumulation of debris.

For the first 12 months following osseointegration surgery, patients are strongly advised against high impact activities such as running, or any activities that may result in a fall. Due to the affected limb being under-used prior to surgery, a period of at least 12 months is required for the development of bone strength to a level suitable for impact activities. Premature overloading of the bone will result in a greater risk of femoral neck fractures and other injuries. The patient is required to consult the principle surgeon before commencing any activities which may increase the risk of injury.

A stoma is a permanent opening into your body, a small amount of leakage daily of clear body fluid from the stoma in normal. Daily washing of the stoma in the shower using an antibacterial soap and a soft brush if required may be all that is required. Swimming in salt water or using Epsom Salt’s in a bath can be beneficial. Hype granulation is a common condition of the skin of the Stoma, it looks like hard bumpy or granular skin and forms beyond the surface of the stoma opening. If it causes pain it can be removed by your GP using Silver Nitrate to cauterise the growth.

Clear mucous secretions from the stoma site are normal, and can increase with higher activity levels and alcohol consumption. However, milky discharge accompanied by pain is often a sign of infection. Certain people can also manifest lack of secretion and dry crust formation at the stoma site, which needs to be cleaned regularly to prevent infection

Normally there should be no pain from the residual bone, if pain occurs it could be due to a skin infection around the stoma. In this case, a swab taken by your GP for testing and a course of antibiotics if required normally resolves the issue. Deeper pain could also be due to a neuroma which is often described as a pinched nerve or burning sensation, it is actually a benign growth of nerve tissue and may require surgery to remove. Deep infection that necessitates removal of the stem implant is very rare but if required can be treated and a new stem re inserted.

Please discuss any phantom or neuroma pain you may be experiencing with the surgeons during the planning stage before your Osseointegration as a procedure called Targeted Muscule Reinnervation (TMR) can be performed at the same time which has demonstrated promising results in reducing pain.

There are only a small fraction of cases reported worldwide that required replacement or removal of the implant. It is quite rare that the procedure results in the loss of the rest of the residual limb. If the surgery does not work for some reason, the patient can always choose to return to a socket prosthesis. It’s important to note that any surgery could potentially result in devastating complications including death. Osseointegration carries similar risk as any medium complexity orthopedic surgery.

Patients who suffer from this pain have had, in many occasions, significant relief from this condition. This is due to a combination of pharmaceutical and surgical intervention.

Surgery costs vary greatly based on the particular situation and needs of each patient.

Every amputation is unique in what limb is amputated, the level of amputation, the cause of amputation, the time since amputation, the individual’s bone quality, the amount of muscle and soft tissue coverage and the integrity of the skin surrounding the residual stump. As a result, these factors are all taken into consideration when planning what options are available and therefore each surgery plan and costing is prescribed individually to each patient.