Wayne Moorehead developed sepsis following an illness, resulting in the amputation of both of his legs and hands. “I looked down and saw what my limbs looked like,” said Wayne “They had turned black. My calves looked like burnt chicken legs [and] my hands looked like skeletons.”
As Wayne was healing after amputation, he could use traditional prostheses to walk short distances with forearm crutches, but osseointegration proved to be life-changing for him. Osseointegration (OI) is specialized technology designed for patients with limb loss. This innovative surgical technique allows patients with above-knee amputations to walk more comfortably for longer periods of time and get back to living a more full and vibrant life.
Affiliated teams from Memorial Hermann | Rockets Orthopedic Hospital and TIRR Memorial Hermann are on the forefront of this revolutionary procedure. We are one of the only programs in the nation to combine this highly specialized amputee implant surgery with an nationally recognized rehabilitation program to optimize outcomes for patients.
At TIRR Memorial Hermann, the osseointegration program offers multidisciplinary care for amputees. With coordinated care from affiliated surgeons, psychologists, rehabilitation physiatrists, pain management specialists, physical therapists, prosthetists, and additional team members, patients of TIRR Memorial Hermann are able to take advantage of leading-edge technology and proven rehabilitation techniques.
Wayne wasn’t one to sit around, feeling sorry for himself. He had interests, hobbies, friends and family to tend to. With OI, he was able to move about more easily, enabling him to do more of the things he enjoyed.
An FDA-approved bone-anchored prosthetic solution, the OI implant system has two parts: the fixture and the abutment. The fixture is an anchorage element that is surgically inserted into the femur. The abutment is a skin-penetrating device that is connected to the fixture. The prosthetic leg is attached directly to the abutment with a connection device. OI surgery is a two-stage process: the fixture is implanted directly into the residual femur; next the abutment is inserted through the skin and connected to the fixture. The prosthesis can then be attached to the abutment.
This innovative implant allows patients to walk with normal motion that cannot be achieved with a typical prosthesis. With direct skeletal attachment, an osseointegration implant allows for natural anatomic alignment of the prosthetic leg that is continuous with the ground. This alignment is essential for a more normal and stable gait.
Recovery from the first stage of surgery involves allowing the amputation to heal around the implanted fixture, and the prosthesis is not worn during this time. Recovery from the second stage of surgery is a longer process. The prosthesis is not used for the first three weeks, and then rehabilitation begins with a progressive weight-bearing program. This phase starts with a short prosthesis to gradually introduce weight bearing to the residual limb. Next, rehabilitation progresses to the use of a “locked” prosthesis in order to begin walking in a controlled manner. Physical therapy lasts a few months while patients learn to walk with the new prosthetic system, gradually decreasing the use of assistive devices and returning to functional activities.
Wayne’s therapy team created a customized rehabilitation plan for him because he did not have hands to use traditional weights or to support himself with assistive devices as he learned to use his prosthetic legs. After his OI surgery and the recovery period, Wayne began physical therapy focused on basic movements like rolling over on a mat. Then he transitioned to doing balance and strengthening on the regular floor, eventually shifting to learn to walk on additional surfaces like foam.
One of the biggest differences between a traditional prosthesis and a prosthesis with OI is the concept of osseoperception. This is the ability to feel the difference of walking on various types of surfaces. With an OI implant, amputees can feel a difference between walking on surfaces like grass, carpet, tile, uneven ground or gravel, and are able to adjust to these different surfaces for stability.
Like other OI patients, Wayne had much more control over his legs. As a result, his function scores improved, and he could “click in” and start walking. “I think I’m walking pretty good. I go to my friend’s houses, I can go back home to the Virgin Islands for Carnival, and I put in a sprinkler system in the house,” said Wayne.
Wayne is definitely highly motivated and eager to try new activities. Wayne shared, “The mental aspect of it is tough. You cannot do this on your own. You cannot make this journey by yourself. It takes a team. The team at TIRR Memorial Hermann has been… I don’t know if there’s any better word than incredible.”