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Prosthetic Patient Story - Trevor
Trevor Bates:
Down, but Definitely Not Out

Trevor Bates could clearly see the car that had just crushed his leg as it sped away. The green Pontiac had just hit Trevor as he has sitting at a stoplight on his motorcycle in Harrison Township, and now, after he had hopped over two lanes of traffic, Trevor lay in the grass watching the driver speed away.

 

"I watched him go straight past me and just keep on going as he hit me," Trevor said. "I was just like, 'Oh my God, oh my God.' I didn't know what to do because my leg was in so much pain."  See more of Trevor's initial reaction in this ABC 22 interview.

 

His leg completely destroyed, his family opted to have Trevor's leg amputated in order to save his life. Since the hit-and-run accident late last September, Trevor has been recovering, using the support from family and friends to work through the difficulties.

 

Trevor says that "nothing" has been his biggest challenge, that he can still do everything he did before, just with a little additional effort. He offers this advice to anyone else dealing with being an amputee from trauma: "Keep your head up, your life is not over.  You may have lost a limb, but you are still here.  And you have to continue to focus on your future, and NOT on what happened to you."

 

Trevor has also been helping advocate for local Wait2TXT campaigns. The campaign, sponsored by Optimus Prosthetics, WDTN Channel 2 and AT&T, features the stories of real people like Trevor to raise awareness about distracted driving. While it's not known whether the driver who hit Trevor was texting, he still impacts large groups of students around his age and how they approach texting behind the wheel.

 

Following his initial amputation, Trevor required a revision surgery in May, 2013 due to significant pain issues in his residual limb. He received his finalized prosthetic socket last week on July 31.

 

 See Trevor walking after being fit with his first prosthesis.

Amputee Coalition Camp
Amputee Coalition Camp
2012 Amputee Coalition Camp.  Photo Courtesy: Amputee Coalition of America.

The Amputee Coalition's Paddy Rossbach Youth Camp was held two weeks ago at the Joy Outdoor Education Center in Clarksville, OH. The camp is a chance for children ages 10-17 with limb loss or limb difference to get to experience a traditional summer camp that offers them opportunities to build confidence and have a great time regardless of their skill level.

 

One unique aspect of the camp is that campers attend without a parent, allowing them the chance to become more independent and take on new challenges. Campers had the chance to participate in activities like canoeing, riding a zipline, climbing a rock wall and more to boost their confidence while creating a great memory and making new friends.

 

Started in 2000, the camp has allowed over 800 kids the chance to see and experience things they will never forget and make lasting friendships. You can assist the Amputee Coalition continue the camp and help them bring in more campers by making a donation at http://www.amputee-coalition.org/donate/.

 

Jim's Corner

The Importance of Proper Prosthetic Sock Use

 

Optimus Prosthetics Jim Scharf
Jim Scharf, PTA

The goal of "Jim's Corner" is to provide helpful information and be a resource for those helping patients fitted with prosthetics learn to use them correctly in order to enjoy a better quality of life as an amputee.

 

For this month's column, I thought I would take a little detour from the usual themes and discuss the importance of proper prosthetic sock use and management. I've always thought patients generally receive a good education on proper prosthetic sock use, but have found follow through is inconsistent at best.

  

Prosthetic socks are "socks" that are put on over the residual limb and are worn to take up the extra space within the socket to make the socket fit properly. They should be used to manage the changes in limb volume. Socket fit is very important, because we know if the socket interface doesn't work, nothing works. As far as clinicians go, there seems to be a lot of confusion on how, when and when not to use the socks.  There is a lot of trial and error, but that's just part of the learning process.

 

Prosthetic socks are part of the fit of the socket, and when used correctly they can accommodate for the changes in limb volume. For example, a patient's residual limb will often swell overnight, causing a very tight-fitting socket first thing in the morning; however, in as little as 5-10 minutes up to a couple hours, the limb will lose volume and then lose the fit.  

 

When the fit becomes too loose, problems can and will occur, including:

  1. Increase in pain
  2. Increase in prosthetic gait deviation.
  3. Change in how the patient utilizes the prosthesis.
  4. "Pistoning" or a rotation of the socket.

So to answer some questions and try to clear up some confusion:

  

When should I use prosthetic socks?

  • When the prosthesis loses its "snug" fit due to limb volume changes.

When should I not use prosthetic socks?

  • When the residual limb increases in volume and/or is too tight.

How do I use prosthetic socks?

  • Apply the appropriate sock (2 ply, 3ply, 5ply or a combination) to take up the excess space in the following order:
  1. The liner goes on to the residual limb first (a small stocking may be issued for skin issues)
  2. Apply the appropriate sock thickness over the liner (not under it, I have seen this on several occasions)
  3. Don the prosthesis

prosthetic sock
Prosthetic Socks
socket needing prosthetic sock
A patient obviously needing a prosthetic sock

 

If the patient is experiencing fit issues even with the addition of multiple socks, it is time to contact the prosthetist for an adjustment or a socket replacement.

 

Recently I found consistent proper sock use is not just a local problem, but a problem on a national level.  I attended the APTA's national conference this past month and the presenters discussed their frustrations with consistent and proper sock use. My hope is that this can help to clear up any confusion and spur an improved usage of socks for the benefit of all involved.  

 

Jim Scharf, PTA, Prosthetic Assistant/Gait Specialist

Jim has been a Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant since 1988.  Jim has worked with lower extremity amputee patients throughout his career.  He serves as a Gait Specialist and Liaison when prosthetic patients are meeting with their therapists. Feel free to contact Jim if he can assist you in any way at: [email protected].

In This Issue
We will be CLOSED on September 2nd for LABOR DAY.
upcoming

D = Dayton Area

C = Columbus Area

 

Completing Course #1 - "Amputation & Prosthetic Overview"

 

C - Thursday, August 8

Mill Run Gardens and Care Center - 12:00

 

C - Thursday, August 15

Friendship Village, Columbus - 12:00

 

D - Wednesday, August 21

Arbors of Dayton - 12:00

 

D - Wednesday, August 28

Trinity Nursing & Rehab - 12:00

 

C - Wednesday, August 28

Pinnacle Senior Care - 9:00 am

 

 

Completing Course #2 - "Lower-Limb Prosthetics:  Transtibial"

 

C - Wednesday, August 7

Centerburg Pointe - 12:00

 

C - Tuesday, August 13

Wesley Glenn - 12:00

 

C - Wednesday, August 14

Gables at Green Pastures - 12:00

 

C - Wednesday, August 21

Rehabilitation & Health Center of Gahanna - 12:00

 

C - Thursday, August 29

Columbus West Park - 12:00

 

 

Completing Course #3 - "Lower-Limb Prosthetics:  Transfemoral"

 

C - Tuesday, August 6

New Albany Care Center - 12:00

 

D - Tuesday, August 13

Xcel Sports Medicine - 12:00

 

D - Wednesday, August 14

Kettering Medical Center - 12:00

 

C - Tuesday, August 20

Bryden Place - 12:00

 

C - Thursday, August 22

Scioto Community - 12:00

 

C - Tuesday, August 27

Highbanks Care Center - 12:00

 

D - Wednesday, August 28

Koester Pavilion - 12:00

 

D - Friday, August 30

Brethren Retirement Community - 12:00

 

 

Course #4 - "Lower Extremity Amputee/Prosthetic Evaluation & Outcomes Measures"

 

D - Thursday, August 15

Atrium Medical Center - 12:00

 

C - Monday, August 19

St. Ann's Hospital - 12:00

 

D - Wednesday, August 21

Kingston of Miamisburg - 12:15

 

 

Course #5 - "Lower-Limb Prosthetic Gait Training"

 

D - Tuesday, August 6

Beavercreek Health Center - 12:00

 

D - Wednesday, August 7

Wayne Hospital - 12:00

 

D - Thursday, August 15

New Lebanon Rehab - 12:00

 

D - Friday, August 16

Shiloh Springs - 12:00

 

D - Thursday, August 22

Lebanon County Manor - 12:00

 

 

Course #6 - "Lower-Limb Prosthetic Gait Deviations"

 

D - Thursday, August 8

Mount Pleasant Rehab Studio - 12:30

 

D - Friday, August 9

Friendship Village - 12:00

 

 

Course #7 - "Upper-Limb Prosthetics"

 

None scheduled

 

 

Course #8 - Prosthetic Advances

 

Non scheduled

 

 

Course #9 - "Partial Foot, Ankle/Knee/Hip Disarticulation, & Transpelvic Prosthetics"

 

None scheduled

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Optimus Prosthetics, Dayton
8517 North Dixie Drive, Suite 100/300
Dayton, Ohio 45414
(937) 454-1900

 

Optimus Prosthetics, Columbus
3132 Olentangy River Road
Columbus, Ohio 43202 

(614) 263-LIMB (5462)


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