Deployment After Limb Salvage for High-Energy Lower-Extremity Trauma
Abstract
Background: Many wounded warriors experienced high-energy lower-extremity trauma (HELET) that may be limb threatening. Volumetric muscle loss, post-traumatic osteoarthritis, nerve injuries, and pain may severely limit physical function. Several wounded warriors express a strong desire to return to their units and be deployed in their original military occupational specialty. We began the return-to-run (RTR) clinical pathway at our institution 2 years ago to facilitate high-performance goals such as these. It involves an energy storing ankle foot orthosis, the intrepid dynamic exoskeletal orthosis in combination with high-intensity, progression oriented rehabilitation. We sought to determine the rate of deployment or predeployment training after participation in this noninvasive intervention. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of the RTR databasewas performed to determine the rate of deployment or predeployment training among those servicemembers who began participation in the RTR between November of 2009 and March of 2011. Medical records were reviewed for demographics, injury, surgical data, and major complications. Requests for delayed amputation were recorded, and charts were reviewed to determine if patients eventually elected to proceed with amputation or if they chose to continue with limb salvage. RESULTS: Between November 2009 and March 2011, 87 service members completed the RTR. Of these, 17 (19.5%) have been deployed to combat or are in predeployment training. Sixteen serve in combat arms (nine Special Forces, four infantry/ranger, two combat engineers, and one gunner), and one is amember of the military intelligence community. Fifteen patients sustained their injuries as a result of HELET (four gunshot, five motor vehicle collisions, four explosions, one parachute injury, and one fall from height), one had idiopathic avascular necrosis of the talus, and one had an iatrogenic nerve injury after pelvic surgery.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2012
- Accession Number
- ADA616317
Entities
People
- Jeanne C. Patzkowski
- Johnny G. Owens
- Joseph R. Hsu
- Kevin L. Kirk
- Ryan V. Blanck
Organizations
- United States Army Institute of Surgical Research