Optimus Prosthetics
News and Notes for MEDICAL PROFESSIONALSJune 2012
In This Issue
Low-Tech; High-Impact
New Product Makes Donning Compression Socks Much Easier
Optimus Academy Update
Our Calendar

 

Completing the first course 'Prosthetic Overview' this month:

 

6/26/2012

Greene Oaks 

11:30

 

6/28/2012

 

Good Samaritan North Rehab
1:00

 

Completing the second course 'Transtibial Prosthetics' this month:

 

6/14/2012

Otterbein by Atrium 

12:00

 

6/22/2012

 Dayton Rehab 

12:00

 

Completing the third course 'Transfemoral Prosthetics' this month:

 

6/5/2012

SpringMeade Retirement Community 

12:00

 

6/7/2012
The Sanctuary at Wilmington Place
12:00

 

Completing the fourth course 'Amputee Mobility Predictor' this month:

 

6/15/2012

Nursing & Rehabilitation Center at Elm Creek

 12:00

 

Completing the fifth course 'Prosthetic Gait Training' this month:

 

6/6/2012

Bethany Village 

12:15

 

6/12/2012

Mary Scott 

8:00 am

 

Completing the seventh course 'Upper Extremity Prosthetics' this month:

 

6/22/2012

Troy Care and Rehab   

8:00 am

 

Completing the eighth course 'Revolutionary Prosthetic Advances' this month:

 

6/20/2012 

Cypress Pointe  

12:00

 

 

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Greetings!

 

Optimus Prosthetics Online Nearing Milestone!

 

Optimus Prosthetics is pleased to announce that our eNewsletter distribution list is nearing 1000 recipients! To show our sincere gratitude, we will be offering a $50 gift card to the 1000th person on the list.

 

Watch for the winner in a future edition, and thank you to everyone for your continued support and referrals.  

If you've got any suggestions, compliments or feedback - we'd love to hear it!  Call us at 937-454-1900 or click here to send us an email!

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Optimus Prosthetics * 8517 N. Dixie Drive * Suite 300 * Dayton OH 45414   

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Low-Tech; High-Impact   

 

Often, when highlighting a patient or component, we tend to focus on the high-tech; the cutting-edge; the "latest and greatest." However, the simplest of prosthetic devices can make a very big impact on a person's life and functionality.

 

Meet Dennis Partin, Optimus Prosthetics patient and thumb amputee.

 

On May 10, 2010, Dennis was working a 400-ton punch press. It was not equipped with dual palm buttons - a standard safety feature for these huge machines - and one wrong move cost Dennis his right thumb. "In less than a second, it was gone. It happened so quick," says Dennis.

 

"All the small things, all the things you don't think about, they were suddenly much harder," Dennis, who is right-handed, explained. "Turning a key, writing, tightening and loosening things, struggling to open a 20-oz pop bottle, everything is more difficult." Dennis went on to explain the impact on his remaining fingers, as well as his left hand. "Because I have to compensate for the missing thumb, I put a lot of extra pressure on my fingers. I even need injections in my left hand for pain."

 

 

Travis Barlow, CP, worked with Dennis on a solution. "When he came to us, he already had a passive device. We wanted to come up with something that gave him more options and greater functionality."

 

Dennis explained that the biggest advantage of his first device was purely cosmetic. "It really helped in terms of being self-conscious about my hand - but I couldn't do much with it. The thumb couldn't really move, so it was still difficult to hold things."

 


 

Travis used Dennis' input when making his new, more functional prosthesis. "Thumb placement was very important to Dennis," Travis explained. "We wanted to give him an opposition post that could be manipulated easily to accommodate for larger objects, and allow him to grasp things securely. We also were careful not to limit the range of motion of his hand and wrist."

 

As a machinist, Dennis uses both hands all day long, and having a functional, movable thumb has made a huge difference! "My new prosthesis is great!" Dennis said. "The thumb can swivel and move and I can adjust the tension to hold things tightly, without worrying about dropping them."

 


 

Like so many amputees, Dennis stays positive by focusing on what he has, instead of what he has lost. "I was inches away from losing my arm," Dennis said. "I was just 23 at the time of the accident. I have 40 years of work ahead of me. I can't let this get me down. Travis and Tim (Riedlinger, CPO) have been great to work with, and I'm glad we were able to come up with a solution that works."

New Product Makes Donning Compression Socks Much Easier

 

While considered an O&P (Orthotics AND Prosthetics) Company, something that makes Optimus unique is that we focus primarily on Prosthetics. By eliminating the "O" from our caseload, our practitioners are freed up to give the extensive personalized service that sets us apart. However, we recently came across a new product that we had to pass along!

 

Introducing: The Doff N Donner

 

Co-Owner of Optimus Prosthetics and prosthetist/engineer, Scott Schall, saw this product in action at AOPA's 2011 National Assembly, and was immediately intrigued. "It was such an ingenious idea to use a 'toroid' (an infinitely shaped water balloon) to help patients either put on, or take off compression socks easily." Scott said. "While Optimus does not plan to provide compression socks, I know that many of our referral sources have patients who wear them, and struggle with applying them every day. This product could make a big difference!"

 

According to the manufacturer's website, "It conforms to the garment, which increases the life of the garment. Invented with a "push" mentality rather than the "pull" strategy, the Doff N' Donner easily rolls over bandages, wet limbs and even scar management pads. Don & Doff Compression garments of all shapes and compression without frustration."

 

See the Doff N Donner in action here.
Optimus Academy 'Prosthetics for Therapists' Update
by Scott Schall  

 

Optimus Academy is pleased to welcome Quaker Heights Care Community (Waynesville), Brethren Retirement Community (Greenville), Wayne Hospital Rehab (Greenville), and Gade Health Center (Greenville) to the list of therapy groups participating in our Prosthetics for Therapists courses. 

 

Quarterly Course Listing

  1. Prosthetic Overview
  2. Transtibial Prosthetics
  3. Transfemoral Prosthetics
  4. Lower Extremity Prosthetic Functional Level Prediction & Outcomes Measurement
  5. Lower Extremity Gait Training & Deviations
  6. Upper Extremity Prosthetics
  7. Revolutionary Prosthetic Advances
  8. Partial Foot / Symes / Knee Disarticulation / Hip Disarticulation
  9. Microprocessor Controlled Knees

Call the office at 937-454-1900

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