The bone-bonded prosthetic installation is directly connected to the bone of the residual limb
Osseointegration is an advanced reconstructive surgical technique for amputees that does not require traditional prosthetics. Because the implant connects directly to the bones of the residual limb, osseointegration patients can regain body awareness and improve their balance and gait.
Osseointegration provides patients with a better quality of life and greater function and mobility without the problems typically associated with alveolar prostheses, such as pinching, sweating, muscle weakness, and skin irritation.
An osseointegrated bone-anchored prosthesis can be implanted in the humerus (upper arm bone), radius or ulna (forearm bone), femur (thigh bone), or tibia (lower leg bone).
How is osseointegration surgery performed?
Osseointegration surgery is performed in 1 or 2 stages, depending on the implant type, design, and individual patient needs. First, a titanium implant is placed into the bone of the residual limb. The implant then passes through the skin and allows direct attachment to the prosthetic limb. During the healing process, the arm or leg implant becomes one with the bone, making the prosthesis more like a direct extension of the residual limb.
There are two types of osseointegration technology: screw fit (OPRA) and press fit. Press-fit implants are typically done in a single-stage technique and can be performed in multiple locations on the body. The screw-fit (OPRA) implant is only suitable for transfemoral amputation and is accomplished in a two-stage technique. The Limb Restoration Program offers two types of implants, depending on which technology best suits the patient's needs and insurance coverage.
What are the advantages of osseointegration surgery?
Increase body awareness
Walking with a connected prosthesis will provide direct feedback to the bones and the ability to sense objects in contact, resulting in greater balance, proprioception (perceiving the position and movement of the body), and bone sense (knowing and feeling the position of the bones without looking).
This increased proprioception improves balance and body awareness, while skeletal receptors create an appreciation of texture and ground angles while walking and driving.
Improved gait and mobility
As body awareness increases, the patient's gait will become more natural. Osseointegrated prostheses allow for a greater range of motion and allow for better bone and muscle mass growth. Patients have stronger limbs, which allows them to live more active lives. The prosthesis attached to an osseointegrated arm or leg implant takes only seconds to clip on or off, giving patients more time to live, not time to prepare.
Reducing pain
Socket-mounted restorations often cause patients to experience pinching, sweating, skin irritation, ulcers, and nerve pain (neuroma). Neuralgia can also manifest as phantom limb pain. The prosthetic socket puts pressure on the nerves of the residual limb, increasing pain. Because there is no socket for the residual limb to compress, osseointegrated prostheses alleviate this pain to a great extent.
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