Latest osseointegration research reveals promising results
A prospective study of 51 patients who have undergone osseointegration surgery under the care of Dr Branemark has revealed promising results at two years' follow up.
Osseointegration was initially discovered by Professor Branemark in 1952. In short, Professor Branemark conducted an experiment where he utilised a titanium implant to study blood flow in rabbit bone. At the conclusion of the study, when it became time to remove the titanium from the bone, he discovered that the bone had integrated with the titanium so that the latter could not be removed. He started to develop this process for human use, initially in the field of dentistry, but then in orthopaedics as well.
The Bone and Joint Journal report that of the 51 patients treated in Sweden, 89% reported daily prosthetic use at 2 years post surgery, as opposed to 57% prior to surgery. Amputees also reported improved function and mood as a result of such surgery. Infection remains the major risk associated with such treatment with over 50% of patients reporting infection of varying degrees. Most cases of infection were resolved with up to 10 days antibiotics but in other cases longer term antibiotics or removal of the implant were required.
Mark Bowman, Partner in FFW's catastrophic injury team, who has successfully obtained osseointegration treatment for clients, commented "The findings of this study are generally positive. For some transfemoral amputees, socket based prostheses just simply will not work. Osseointegration provides them with a real alternative, and it is hoped that with further research over the next few years, infection rates will drop and more amputees will benefit from such surgery."
To read the report findings in full please see
http://www.bjj.boneandjoint.org.uk/content/96-B/1/106.abstract
You can read more about this story here
The Bone and Joint Journal report that of the 51 patients treated in Sweden, 89% reported daily prosthetic use at 2 years post surgery, as opposed to 57% prior to surgery. Amputees also reported improved function and mood as a result of such surgery. Infection remains the major risk associated with such treatment with over 50% of patients reporting infection of varying degrees. Most cases of infection were resolved with up to 10 days antibiotics but in other cases longer term antibiotics or removal of the implant were required.
Mark Bowman, Partner in FFW's catastrophic injury team, who has successfully obtained osseointegration treatment for clients, commented "The findings of this study are generally positive. For some transfemoral amputees, socket based prostheses just simply will not work. Osseointegration provides them with a real alternative, and it is hoped that with further research over the next few years, infection rates will drop and more amputees will benefit from such surgery."
To read the report findings in full please see
http://www.bjj.boneandjoint.org.uk/content/96-B/1/106.abstract
You can read more about this story here