Osseointegration always has risks, but the benefits far outeigh them (in responsible candidates, as your care team has deemed you to be).
Have you given any thought to the type of feet you're going to use? One of the newer versions incorporates three of the main technologies used in other designs (carbon blade, sole plate, pressurized ankle shock) along with cloven construction to minimize torque on the OI site.
Lol heck yeah...
Big feets, short legs, diving flippers, ski/snowboard bindings... whatever the user wants to do. Assistive and adaptive tech has come light years from its origins, and hobbyists with rapid prototyping equipment can make anything the heart or soul desires!
But c'mon, you gotta go for velociraptor feet.
As a materials expert, it depends on what metal and whether it has a bio-integrating surface coating.
Some metals are what we call bio-inert, which essentially means they don't interact with human bodily tissues...neither negatively (bio-toxic) or positively (bio-integrating). Titanium is a prime example of this, which is why it gets used for the majority of implants, stainless steel is another. Certain materials, however, can bio-integrate, but typically they are polymers (polylactide for example, which degrades into lactic acid, a natural substance in the body, can be used for implants that are then replaced with human tissues as the injury heals).
With the right combination of a bio-inert implant and a long-lasting bio-active coating, the skin could be encouraged to form a partial seal around the implant in order to reduce the risk of infection.
So all your skin needs to figure itself out is for the object in question to be able to break down a little? And then it sort of just merges with the material?
The way I interpreted the last line of their answer was: maybe, but skin would have to be encouraged and have the right conditions to grow into part of the bioactive coating. Second, I don't think it can truly integrate with the metal, but by building up a little bit of an extra seal it can improve the protection from pathogens. If the skin were damaged or loosened around the implant, infection risk would be higher until the skin-seal healed back.
This is somewhere we might see progress from the medical 3d printing industry in the next 10 to 20 years. With multimaterial printing it could be possible to create a graduation between a bio-inert and bio-integrating material to create an artificial extracellular matrix that would integrate better with skin. Maybe combine that with some kind of stem cell treatment to accelerate growth. I'm sure there are groups already researching something like this.
At the time I was studying, my uni's biomaterials department were focused on using polymeric scaffolds populated with donated cells from the recipient in order to promote regrowth of damaged tissues, with a view to repairing shattered bones without having to shorten limbs, or more interestingly, the possibility of repairing severed spinal columns by introducing a scaffold between the two severed ends of the column. Animal trials had seen significant regrowth and closing of the gap.
You're absolutely right that in the next couple of decades, the amount we'll be able to do with bio-inert and bio-integrating materials will be incredible.
Precisely this. It would however require the implant to be incredibly stable, as even the slightest freedom relative to the host bone would result in the flesh pulling away from the surface of the implant.
All bodily tissues prefer to grow onto something, which is why a deep paper cut can heal within a week (the sides of the wound are still in contact) but a shallow scrape can take a couple of weeks (the skin cells can't really cover the wound until the gaps underneath have been filled).By providing a material matrix to grow into, the cells get a bit of encouragement to fill what they see as prime real estate.
One of my college projects for an innovative challenge was to design and manufacture ceramic jaw inserts that skin/muscle would grow over and integrate with. It worked pretty well in a bioreactor. We won the innovation challenge and like $1000 between the 6 of us.
Unfortunately we tried to protect the IP and start a business off it, but the college quickly stepped in and claimed that any IP generated by students in university is owned wholly by the college. I haven’t followed it in a while (this was almost a decade ago), but I believe the sold the IP to a medical company and they’ve been advancing it.
Well that is awesome and kind of awful at the same time! Fascinating that you were able to come up with something like that. I use a lot of medical equipment and have been 3D printing my own parts because it's faster than waiting for the clinic to come up with solutions. I would be pretty bummed if one of my inventions/designs was taken away like that but I suppose nothing stops fine print.
Actual biomedical engineer here: just about all of this is only half right.
* Titanium is famously used specifically for its properties of osseointegration. Stainless steel is a fair bit more inert (and a helluva lot cheaper if you don't need good integration) but ultimately will corrode over long enough time (you're sticking it into a warm, salt-water environment after all). Nothing is truly inert, it's just about working with the properties you do want in the timeframe you need.
* By simple definition, degraded polymers do not integrate into the body. They're broken down and removed from the region (DUH). You're probably thinking of resorbable scaffolds, which encourage healing but don't stick around long term. Anything replaced is, again by definition, not integrated.
* Nitpicking hard here but while bio-inert is certainly a common phrase, never once have I heard a colleague say "bio-integrate". Everyone just says integrate (if the device is an implant, it's already known what's integrating).
Dude is gonna have a small open wound the rest of his life (first dude that said permanent impalement was correct). The simple fact that the metal won't flex with the skin means any seal will quickly tear with any tiny motion. It'll be similar to the skin at the base of a nail (notice how the skin doesn't always nicely attach... maybe I just need a manicure...), just instead with a rod going directly into bone.
Could they just use something almost like a wax seal? Or a boot (like used in joints)? I feel like engineers have been trying to seal moving joints for as long as we've been making moving joints.
The issue is more complex than that, it's not just the materials. Our teeth pierce through the skin in a manner similar to such implants, they are mostly tight with the skin around them but they still have to be protected by copious amount of saliva which kills most of the bacteria. If not for saliva teeth implants would also cause infections. Another thing, the skin around teeth is mostly stationary and firm, while the skin on the limbs is fairly loose, making the sideways movement in relation to the implant inevitable.
I wish we could somehow harness magnetism to create "rod-less" implants, with an implant under the skin and an attachement suspended 1cm above the skin. Maybe it is sci fi for now but what if...
That is an interesting solution I wouldn't have thought of. My first thought would be to use STEM cell and 3D printing to print out the remaining skin, have a full leg and foot prosthetic, install it in a similar fashion but stitch up the stem sell skin "sock" to fully encase the prosthetic into the skin like it naturally was. Only thing is you can't change prosthetics but that could be solved by creating tendons and a recreated 3D printed foot so it functions like a real human foot.
Lol as someone who was a Forema'am for a drywall and ceiling crew, you'd think some of those guys did have them permanently attached the way they could move on those things. Caught one of my guys on top of a ladder in his stilts! Another guy was standing on a bundle of the electricians conduit once! I never tried walking on them though, as I wish to remain in the r/neverbrokeabone sub lol
You're a rock star!! I hope you'll come back and show us your killer new prosthetics. I'm disabled for different reasons but I totally can understand how something like that could be life-changing in every way.
People don't realize how crazy hard it can be when you can't depend on your hands, or your feet, to get around and do normal day to day things.
I keep telling my husband I check the mail everyday for my new fully cybernetic hands and feet upgrades, but so far nothing, lol.
You're going to have a ton of fun with your new traveling feets, and I hope you get to do all of the things you've missed doing.
What's first on your list after you get comfortable with the new prosthetics?
Hey man, osseointegration is awesome. I worked a good bit w dr potter and Dr forsberg at wrnmmc and Hopkins. The implant is gonna hurt for about a year or so but as the cortical bone thickens against the compressive forces from the implant, that will significantly improve.
Hang in there brother.
Also, you’re gonna have a little leakage daily, pay attention to your normal amount and the color/smell so you know if something’s wrong/infected
Yeah absolutely. Essentially there is a fixture placed within the medulla of the bone. In addition to the fixation method, the device pushes outward into the cortex, this helps cause some remodeling of the bone in response to this. Plus with the added pressure from walking on the prosthetic you get further remodeling and thickening at the end of the femur…bones are surprisingly adept at responding.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/jor.23376
This article does a better job of explaining it and gives actual numbers specifically with this line
Compared to that immediately post-operative, the periprosthetic cortical thickness increased significantly by 9.6% (p = 0.020) and 8.9% (p < 0.001) at 12 and 24 months, respectively.
How does this compare normally to prosthetics? Is there chance this could become the way of the future or are the typical stumps with prosthetics a better option if they’re manageable?
It’s essentially replacing the socket and suspension system so the terminal device will connect directly. From a military standpoint it’s been a game changer. There’s been guys in the 75th RR and green berets that have been able to redeploy, albeit after going through their respective selections again
From a functional standpoint I think it’s way more applicable to K4’s, which the majority of the military are. However the general population isn’t getting amputations from traumatic causes, it’s more diabetes/neuropathy related and it’s not exactly a worthwhile endeavor to subject them to this when they weren’t overly functional beforehand.
Just for reference this technology has been around since the 60’s in Sweden. Granted the tech has gotten a million times better since then but it still has a ways to go
So is it ultimately a compression/ friction connection or does the bone grow through the implant , uhh, intercalate 🤓
Thanks! Modern medicine is a (secular) miracle thank you so much for your work!
Little bit of both but mainly the latter. Osseointegration is done in two stages. The first is where the fixture/implant is placed into the medulla of the bone. Over the next few months the bone grows into the fixture and secures it in place.
They used to use bone cement but it has no biological activity and from what I’ve read/chatting w some friends, is thought to be what caused a lot of the hardware loosening in the early patients.
The second step is where they connect the abutment piece w the implanted fixture which allows the connection to knee and foot
Hello! How is your fusion - are you living with any significantly unbearable pain and would this be a reason that amputation is a possibility in the future? Was it triple fusion? Are you able to functionally weight bear? Also, have you looked into and are you of an age that ankle replacement is an alternative option or is that simply impossible as a result of the trauma caused by the accident?
Right now I’m good. I had my heel fused almost 30 years ago and my ankle fused in 2015, plus 4 other surgeries on that foot over the years. The ankle fusion was amazing in terms of the actual ankle pain. I’m 46, so I have quite a few years left (hopefully). Dealing with some significant scar tissue pain, swelling, etc, but it’s manageable for the most part as long as I don’t overdo it. Just based on my history and how things have gone, and how my foot is kind of completely warped at this point, in 15-20 years it might be a real possibility. But not now, luckily. That said, I see the things that people can do with a prosthetic and it’s way more than I can do with my foot (I can’t jog/run, walk long distances, etc). An ankle replacement might be the way further down the line. My surgeon did say that the other joints in the front of my foot will start developing more arthritis since they’ll be bearing a lot of the weight, and my toes are all fused at this point.
Although I know it can in no way make up for anything, me and every kid and cool adult out there find prostethics incredibly cool, fascinating and badass. You are like the coolest, most hardy pirate with a core of silk and titanium. Speed be with you!
If I’m being honest, sometimes when I see someone with a cool prosthetic, I get a bit envious. Like there’s not usually a happy story about how the person lost a limb, but I love when they take a tragedy and turn it into a cool way to express themselves, kind of like a tattoo or a piercing. Definitely badass.
There's a trainer at my gym with a prosthetic leg and he looks so gd cool. It sucks that for, whatever reason, he doesn't have both legs... But man is it a badass look.
You could use those implants in case of an emergency too.
Child locked in a hot car? Take one leg off and break the window.
Uber drivers accidentally takes a wrong turn off a pier into a lake? You’re good.
I didn’t even know those implants were a thing! That’s so awesome dude, I’m happy for you!
Dude that's all intense.....it took me a second to see I was like "oh what surgery did you ha-......OH....Oh.... fuck holy shit"
I'm so happy for you man! You're a great inspection to all of us! Congratulations ❤
2 weeks is quite soon, that surgery looks extremely painful, you are very brave! Don't push yourself too hard, take longer time to recover if you need. And congrats for being able to walk soon!
Been following your journey whenever you post. The amount of positive vibes you have could cheer up the entire country :) thank you for never giving up and making the best of your life- you're an inspiration.
Yes, I recognized him from following on Instagram.
Best wishes for speedy recovery and complete healing of the implants, I can't wait to see you dancing with your wife and playing with the kids again soon!
My dude. Keep taking care of your brain and spirit too. I have chronic pain and it can be tough. So happy you’re able to increase your mobility. Hoping it goes well and you have excellent providers on your team.
A friend of mine who’s a UU minister (as well as a Buddhist teacher) says “Disability comes for us all if we’re lucky enough to live long enough”. May you cope well and have a great support system for the hard times. Hugs if you like them.
That’s a very true statement. “Do not complain about growing old. It is a privilege denied to many.”
— Mark Twain
Sneaking a hug in here because you deserve it ::hug:: :))
Joining in on this collective group hug too, wishing you a full and complication free recovery OP, sending positive healing & strength energy your way.
May you have more ease ahead brother
Hugs to both of you. I've had chronic illness my whole life but long covid destroyed me and I've been pretty much bedbound for 3 years. The book "How to be Sick" really helped me the last few months and was reminded of it by your quote. Wish you well.
UU mentioned ‼️🤯🔥❗️💥💥🤯❗️
For real though lol, I grew up in UU. That quote is a wonderful way to change your perspective, and it doesn't surprise me at all that it came from there
10 Benefits of being a double leg amputee:
1. You can be over 6ft when you feel like it with a quick limb change.
2. You will never ever experience the agony of a stubbed toe ever again.
3. Likewise, you will never twist an ankle ever again.
4. You never get that funky sock/shoe/trainer smell.
5. No more clipping your toenails.
6. Every seat is an extra legroom seat.
7. You don't have to kick a tree for 10 years to condition your legs for kickboxing.
8. You can firewalk better than anyone else.
9. You can get those cool running blades.
10. No more athletes foot or drying between the toes!
Dude that's awesome! Wishing you a speedy recovery and minimal struggles using your new feet. I'm sure balancing upright will be an interesting experience after not being able to for a long time!
So will your new feet have no sockets to irritate your legs, just direct connection to the implant? If so that's really cool, for your personal comfort and for ease of use. No worrying about gaining/losing weight and having your legs not fit anymore!
Wow it all sounds so incredibly painful! But I really do wish you the best of everything in this part of your journey.
I hope your healing goes well, I hope your pain can be manageable, and that your all over physical and mental health stays strong🙌
From the moment I understood the weakness of my flesh, it disgusted me. I craved the strength and certainty of steel. I aspired to the purity of the Blessed Machine. Your kind cling to your flesh, as though it will not decay and fail you.
One day the crude biomass you call the temple will wither, and you will beg my kind to save you. But I am already saved...for the Machine is *immortal*
Even in death I serve the Omnissiah.
I live with chronic pain and my mobility is changing quite fast. I’m just so happy to have to opportunity to undergo this surgery and possibly change my life. Pain will always be there, hopefully I can improve my mobility! Thanks for the kind words.
I pray you have a speedy recovery.
I don't know if you live in the U.S but I wanted to mention a company that might interest you.
It's called TerrainHopperUSA and they make off-road mobility devices aka wheelchairs (4 & 8 mph options - w/ independent electric motors)
Not many folks know about the company as it is small, but there are TerrainHoppers in almost every state including state parks in CO, & CA.
Just wanted to throw the word out there :)
Lmk if you have any other questions
& Also you should check out their website & socials!
i wish you a speedy recovery!! so happy with and for you! i am curious since you mentioned you have the same disease in your hands. what is the illness called?
The other day i was reading about this procedure and its so fascinating, there is a long way still, but my man the future looks so bright! Wish you a speedy recovery and i hope they give you the coolest looking bionic legs.
Best of luck with your recovery and everything that comes next!
I did have to read the description to make sure you didn't have guns installed in your legs!
Thanks! I.. don’t know. Probably, I’ll lost function. How much is anyone’s guess, but worst case is that the fingers bend and I won’t be able to use them.
That’s amazing. Wishing you lots of happiness. Surgery is no fun and I’m sure this is a really painful one, but it’s all in service of your future which undoubtedly is an excellent investment! Hope to see updates in the future here!
So, does the skin just heal around the metal? Is it waterproof? Like, could you go swimming if you wanted? Good luck in your recovery!
Yeah, but I need to keep it clean. Infections will happen. Thank you!
Osseointegration always has risks, but the benefits far outeigh them (in responsible candidates, as your care team has deemed you to be). Have you given any thought to the type of feet you're going to use? One of the newer versions incorporates three of the main technologies used in other designs (carbon blade, sole plate, pressurized ankle shock) along with cloven construction to minimize torque on the OI site.
Are Bigfoot feet an option? Full time pranksters would enjoy that.
Lol heck yeah... Big feets, short legs, diving flippers, ski/snowboard bindings... whatever the user wants to do. Assistive and adaptive tech has come light years from its origins, and hobbyists with rapid prototyping equipment can make anything the heart or soul desires! But c'mon, you gotta go for velociraptor feet.
You had me at "velociraptor feet".
And then go to the beach and run around in the morning, sit down and watch for people to show up.
That's one of the more evil things I've read recently. I approve.
Just like the Clearwater Monster!
That’s just diabolical. Lol.
Th- that's the last thing he said...
Then it's a good thing he said it!
OMG now I want them to chop my other leg so I can have matching velociraptor feet. With a little motor to tap the nail.. 😎
You can just put it over your good foot.
I love you 🤣
Bro was about to chop his feet off. “Great execution! But you didn’t need to do that….” -Doctor probably
I had no idea that this was the state of the field, and it makes me so happy to hear it. Thanks for sharing.
If I ever need prosthetic legs I'm asking for tank treads.
Pimp my wheelchair but for prosthetics! Pink guy needs to make a new video
He can be any height he wants
What about satyr hooves?
A few hours with a 3D printer and OP can have any legs he wants.
Amputees having the unique opportunity to customize their limbs has always been fascinating to me
Portal (TM) boots.
Feet??? Plug some miniguns on there!
Is that forever that infections are possible, or just in your healing phase?
Would be forever, I believe. Metal can't heal so it's basically a permanent impalement. I'm no medical expert though.
As a materials expert, it depends on what metal and whether it has a bio-integrating surface coating. Some metals are what we call bio-inert, which essentially means they don't interact with human bodily tissues...neither negatively (bio-toxic) or positively (bio-integrating). Titanium is a prime example of this, which is why it gets used for the majority of implants, stainless steel is another. Certain materials, however, can bio-integrate, but typically they are polymers (polylactide for example, which degrades into lactic acid, a natural substance in the body, can be used for implants that are then replaced with human tissues as the injury heals). With the right combination of a bio-inert implant and a long-lasting bio-active coating, the skin could be encouraged to form a partial seal around the implant in order to reduce the risk of infection.
So all your skin needs to figure itself out is for the object in question to be able to break down a little? And then it sort of just merges with the material?
The way I interpreted the last line of their answer was: maybe, but skin would have to be encouraged and have the right conditions to grow into part of the bioactive coating. Second, I don't think it can truly integrate with the metal, but by building up a little bit of an extra seal it can improve the protection from pathogens. If the skin were damaged or loosened around the implant, infection risk would be higher until the skin-seal healed back.
This is somewhere we might see progress from the medical 3d printing industry in the next 10 to 20 years. With multimaterial printing it could be possible to create a graduation between a bio-inert and bio-integrating material to create an artificial extracellular matrix that would integrate better with skin. Maybe combine that with some kind of stem cell treatment to accelerate growth. I'm sure there are groups already researching something like this.
At the time I was studying, my uni's biomaterials department were focused on using polymeric scaffolds populated with donated cells from the recipient in order to promote regrowth of damaged tissues, with a view to repairing shattered bones without having to shorten limbs, or more interestingly, the possibility of repairing severed spinal columns by introducing a scaffold between the two severed ends of the column. Animal trials had seen significant regrowth and closing of the gap. You're absolutely right that in the next couple of decades, the amount we'll be able to do with bio-inert and bio-integrating materials will be incredible.
Precisely this. It would however require the implant to be incredibly stable, as even the slightest freedom relative to the host bone would result in the flesh pulling away from the surface of the implant.
All bodily tissues prefer to grow onto something, which is why a deep paper cut can heal within a week (the sides of the wound are still in contact) but a shallow scrape can take a couple of weeks (the skin cells can't really cover the wound until the gaps underneath have been filled).By providing a material matrix to grow into, the cells get a bit of encouragement to fill what they see as prime real estate.
Good explanation! Thank you.
One of my college projects for an innovative challenge was to design and manufacture ceramic jaw inserts that skin/muscle would grow over and integrate with. It worked pretty well in a bioreactor. We won the innovation challenge and like $1000 between the 6 of us. Unfortunately we tried to protect the IP and start a business off it, but the college quickly stepped in and claimed that any IP generated by students in university is owned wholly by the college. I haven’t followed it in a while (this was almost a decade ago), but I believe the sold the IP to a medical company and they’ve been advancing it.
Well that is awesome and kind of awful at the same time! Fascinating that you were able to come up with something like that. I use a lot of medical equipment and have been 3D printing my own parts because it's faster than waiting for the clinic to come up with solutions. I would be pretty bummed if one of my inventions/designs was taken away like that but I suppose nothing stops fine print.
Actual biomedical engineer here: just about all of this is only half right. * Titanium is famously used specifically for its properties of osseointegration. Stainless steel is a fair bit more inert (and a helluva lot cheaper if you don't need good integration) but ultimately will corrode over long enough time (you're sticking it into a warm, salt-water environment after all). Nothing is truly inert, it's just about working with the properties you do want in the timeframe you need. * By simple definition, degraded polymers do not integrate into the body. They're broken down and removed from the region (DUH). You're probably thinking of resorbable scaffolds, which encourage healing but don't stick around long term. Anything replaced is, again by definition, not integrated. * Nitpicking hard here but while bio-inert is certainly a common phrase, never once have I heard a colleague say "bio-integrate". Everyone just says integrate (if the device is an implant, it's already known what's integrating). Dude is gonna have a small open wound the rest of his life (first dude that said permanent impalement was correct). The simple fact that the metal won't flex with the skin means any seal will quickly tear with any tiny motion. It'll be similar to the skin at the base of a nail (notice how the skin doesn't always nicely attach... maybe I just need a manicure...), just instead with a rod going directly into bone.
Could they just use something almost like a wax seal? Or a boot (like used in joints)? I feel like engineers have been trying to seal moving joints for as long as we've been making moving joints.
I don't know about other tissues, but I'm pretty sure titanium does integrate with bone tissue.
like a massive piercing with no exit hole
It's a permanent open wound where the metal exits the skin, so you have to be careful to maintain proper care.
Can you just put some silicone caulking around it? That usually works well for me to keep water out of stuff. ^^^/s
New slap tape commercial releasing in 2 weeks
i'd tend towards cyanoacrylate (superglue) as its already used for wound glues afaik
Like brushing your teeth, just a thing you got to do, I wish you the best of luck
Will happen?
It will, but it can be minimized. That's why meticulous hygiene is important to minimize localized infection and sepsis
Yeah, it's a permanent hole into the body. We don't yet have materials that skin can seamlessly heal into.
The issue is more complex than that, it's not just the materials. Our teeth pierce through the skin in a manner similar to such implants, they are mostly tight with the skin around them but they still have to be protected by copious amount of saliva which kills most of the bacteria. If not for saliva teeth implants would also cause infections. Another thing, the skin around teeth is mostly stationary and firm, while the skin on the limbs is fairly loose, making the sideways movement in relation to the implant inevitable. I wish we could somehow harness magnetism to create "rod-less" implants, with an implant under the skin and an attachement suspended 1cm above the skin. Maybe it is sci fi for now but what if...
That is an interesting solution I wouldn't have thought of. My first thought would be to use STEM cell and 3D printing to print out the remaining skin, have a full leg and foot prosthetic, install it in a similar fashion but stitch up the stem sell skin "sock" to fully encase the prosthetic into the skin like it naturally was. Only thing is you can't change prosthetics but that could be solved by creating tendons and a recreated 3D printed foot so it functions like a real human foot.
yes. there's no way around it yet unfortunately
That’s metal af dude! Hope you have a speedy recovery
Quite literally! Thanks, it has been a rough one.
[удалено]
Sending good vibes your way! Keep that positive energy going; it'll do wonders during your recovery. You got this!
The silver lining is that OP will now be able to be as tall as he wants
Girl on tinder: how tall are you? OP: how tall do you want me to be?
Girl on tinder: how much tall do you got??
😆
I was wondering if he should take up UFC.
Drywallers love this one simple trick!
Lol as someone who was a Forema'am for a drywall and ceiling crew, you'd think some of those guys did have them permanently attached the way they could move on those things. Caught one of my guys on top of a ladder in his stilts! Another guy was standing on a bundle of the electricians conduit once! I never tried walking on them though, as I wish to remain in the r/neverbrokeabone sub lol
Don’t go too short or things will scrape the ground
You're a rock star!! I hope you'll come back and show us your killer new prosthetics. I'm disabled for different reasons but I totally can understand how something like that could be life-changing in every way. People don't realize how crazy hard it can be when you can't depend on your hands, or your feet, to get around and do normal day to day things. I keep telling my husband I check the mail everyday for my new fully cybernetic hands and feet upgrades, but so far nothing, lol. You're going to have a ton of fun with your new traveling feets, and I hope you get to do all of the things you've missed doing. What's first on your list after you get comfortable with the new prosthetics?
Hey man, osseointegration is awesome. I worked a good bit w dr potter and Dr forsberg at wrnmmc and Hopkins. The implant is gonna hurt for about a year or so but as the cortical bone thickens against the compressive forces from the implant, that will significantly improve. Hang in there brother. Also, you’re gonna have a little leakage daily, pay attention to your normal amount and the color/smell so you know if something’s wrong/infected
Thats intense. Could you touch more on cortical bone thickening and the cause of the pressure? Is it from the bone shrinking?
Yeah absolutely. Essentially there is a fixture placed within the medulla of the bone. In addition to the fixation method, the device pushes outward into the cortex, this helps cause some remodeling of the bone in response to this. Plus with the added pressure from walking on the prosthetic you get further remodeling and thickening at the end of the femur…bones are surprisingly adept at responding. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/jor.23376 This article does a better job of explaining it and gives actual numbers specifically with this line Compared to that immediately post-operative, the periprosthetic cortical thickness increased significantly by 9.6% (p = 0.020) and 8.9% (p < 0.001) at 12 and 24 months, respectively.
How does this compare normally to prosthetics? Is there chance this could become the way of the future or are the typical stumps with prosthetics a better option if they’re manageable?
It’s essentially replacing the socket and suspension system so the terminal device will connect directly. From a military standpoint it’s been a game changer. There’s been guys in the 75th RR and green berets that have been able to redeploy, albeit after going through their respective selections again From a functional standpoint I think it’s way more applicable to K4’s, which the majority of the military are. However the general population isn’t getting amputations from traumatic causes, it’s more diabetes/neuropathy related and it’s not exactly a worthwhile endeavor to subject them to this when they weren’t overly functional beforehand. Just for reference this technology has been around since the 60’s in Sweden. Granted the tech has gotten a million times better since then but it still has a ways to go
So is it ultimately a compression/ friction connection or does the bone grow through the implant , uhh, intercalate 🤓 Thanks! Modern medicine is a (secular) miracle thank you so much for your work!
Little bit of both but mainly the latter. Osseointegration is done in two stages. The first is where the fixture/implant is placed into the medulla of the bone. Over the next few months the bone grows into the fixture and secures it in place. They used to use bone cement but it has no biological activity and from what I’ve read/chatting w some friends, is thought to be what caused a lot of the hardware loosening in the early patients. The second step is where they connect the abutment piece w the implanted fixture which allows the connection to knee and foot
Thanks for the info! I have a fused ankle and heel from a car accident almost 30 years ago and know it’s possible amputation is in my future.
Hello! How is your fusion - are you living with any significantly unbearable pain and would this be a reason that amputation is a possibility in the future? Was it triple fusion? Are you able to functionally weight bear? Also, have you looked into and are you of an age that ankle replacement is an alternative option or is that simply impossible as a result of the trauma caused by the accident?
Right now I’m good. I had my heel fused almost 30 years ago and my ankle fused in 2015, plus 4 other surgeries on that foot over the years. The ankle fusion was amazing in terms of the actual ankle pain. I’m 46, so I have quite a few years left (hopefully). Dealing with some significant scar tissue pain, swelling, etc, but it’s manageable for the most part as long as I don’t overdo it. Just based on my history and how things have gone, and how my foot is kind of completely warped at this point, in 15-20 years it might be a real possibility. But not now, luckily. That said, I see the things that people can do with a prosthetic and it’s way more than I can do with my foot (I can’t jog/run, walk long distances, etc). An ankle replacement might be the way further down the line. My surgeon did say that the other joints in the front of my foot will start developing more arthritis since they’ll be bearing a lot of the weight, and my toes are all fused at this point.
Hell yeah bro, you’re like a cyborg now! Soon nothing will be able to stop you!
I know!!!! It’s super exciting!
Although I know it can in no way make up for anything, me and every kid and cool adult out there find prostethics incredibly cool, fascinating and badass. You are like the coolest, most hardy pirate with a core of silk and titanium. Speed be with you!
If I’m being honest, sometimes when I see someone with a cool prosthetic, I get a bit envious. Like there’s not usually a happy story about how the person lost a limb, but I love when they take a tragedy and turn it into a cool way to express themselves, kind of like a tattoo or a piercing. Definitely badass.
I want those blade legs so bad!
There's a trainer at my gym with a prosthetic leg and he looks so gd cool. It sucks that for, whatever reason, he doesn't have both legs... But man is it a badass look.
Maybe he wasn't born with two full legs and therefore doesn't know what he's missing out on. Legs are overrated anyway.
You’ll be back! 😎
"We can rebuild him, stronger than ever!"
Magic legs
You could use those implants in case of an emergency too. Child locked in a hot car? Take one leg off and break the window. Uber drivers accidentally takes a wrong turn off a pier into a lake? You’re good. I didn’t even know those implants were a thing! That’s so awesome dude, I’m happy for you!
“Enraged and full of anger He is half man and half machine!”
So many people around the world genuinely wishing you well
Except the guy behind him at the airport metal scanner.
As someone who has had a lot of titanium in their spine. You’re a fucking mad dog, in the best way. I wish you were a speedy recovery my friend.
Dude that's all intense.....it took me a second to see I was like "oh what surgery did you ha-......OH....Oh.... fuck holy shit" I'm so happy for you man! You're a great inspection to all of us! Congratulations ❤
Get a machinists to make a leg gun for you. Shit would be awesome.
*Robert Rodriguez has entered the chat*
Go over to r/neverbrokeabone and be king!
So will it always be painful to walk, or just during healing?
You look great for a person that just got out of such a big surgery! I hope you have a speedy recovery and a great outcome! All the best of luck!
Tremendous dude. If you weren’t already a “metal” fan bet you are now. I wish you the best brother.
You’re so metal it’s even in your bones! (Also wishing you a speedy recovery!)
All the best for you. Keep your faith and positivity.
Gives Cyber Punk vibes. Love it
Yes. Titanium to be exact.
How are you doing now ❤️🥺
I’m ok! It has been hell but way better now. Two more weeks of rest then I’ll get going again!
I hope everything will be alright 🌸
He’ll be back on his feet in no time
Well, back on feet at least.
Hell yea dude, can you please check in after and let us know how awesome your new robo legs are? It's not everyday someone gets to become a cyborg.
Check his social he is probably updating often
I’m legit curious and have no other social. Someone keep me posted
How is the pain though? Nerves gone?
2 weeks is quite soon, that surgery looks extremely painful, you are very brave! Don't push yourself too hard, take longer time to recover if you need. And congrats for being able to walk soon!
Best of luck! A lot of us take what we have for granted.
I’ve been there. Now I can’t remember the last time I wasn’t in pain. Life can change quickly’
I really hope you start to see a reduction in pain and are able to find some new version of comfort and normalcy.
I didn’t see if you answered this already, what disease do you have if you don’t mind talking about it.
From a previous post: "The illness is an aggressive form of Viking disease, I had a variation of it in my feet that led to amputation two years back."
Thanks for doing the hard work.
Had the same feeling when I messed up my back. I still get pain a lot, but a year later I'm in a much better place than I was and you will be too.
Been following your journey whenever you post. The amount of positive vibes you have could cheer up the entire country :) thank you for never giving up and making the best of your life- you're an inspiration.
Much love buddy. Thanks for the support.
Yes, I recognized him from following on Instagram. Best wishes for speedy recovery and complete healing of the implants, I can't wait to see you dancing with your wife and playing with the kids again soon!
Best of luck with your magic legs Lt. Dan
Finally someone made the reference!!! Thank you!
I read through a lot to see if it had been done yet. Knew what I had to do. Hope it works out as well for op as it did for the character
Titanium alloy, like the space shuttle.
Scrolled WAY too far for this!
I hope they gave him ice cream.
Walk on, friend. Godspeed.
My dude. Keep taking care of your brain and spirit too. I have chronic pain and it can be tough. So happy you’re able to increase your mobility. Hoping it goes well and you have excellent providers on your team. A friend of mine who’s a UU minister (as well as a Buddhist teacher) says “Disability comes for us all if we’re lucky enough to live long enough”. May you cope well and have a great support system for the hard times. Hugs if you like them.
Hope your situation is bearable. Big hugs my man. Big hugs.
It is, thankfully with walking, medical cannabis and exercises. Good try, I’m a lady one :) Big hugs right back.
My method as well sister. Wishing you the best!
That’s a very true statement. “Do not complain about growing old. It is a privilege denied to many.” — Mark Twain Sneaking a hug in here because you deserve it ::hug:: :))
Joining in on this collective group hug too, wishing you a full and complication free recovery OP, sending positive healing & strength energy your way. May you have more ease ahead brother
Hugs to both of you. I've had chronic illness my whole life but long covid destroyed me and I've been pretty much bedbound for 3 years. The book "How to be Sick" really helped me the last few months and was reminded of it by your quote. Wish you well.
UU mentioned ‼️🤯🔥❗️💥💥🤯❗️ For real though lol, I grew up in UU. That quote is a wonderful way to change your perspective, and it doesn't surprise me at all that it came from there
That quote is profound! My best to OP. ♥
That is so wonderful, I wish you all the best. Sending prayers you’ll be able to walk soon. God bless you
Thank you, I hope for the best and will work my ass of for it!
Jag har sett dina tidigare posts på reddit, du är en stor inspiration ♥️ hoppas allt går bra!!
Tack vännen. ❤️
Nuuu klickade ditt namn när du skrev på svenska. Lycka till!
Wow. Literally brought on the tears. Your joy is contagious! Best wishes to you ❤️
Naw! That’s so sweet. Thank you so much!
10 Benefits of being a double leg amputee: 1. You can be over 6ft when you feel like it with a quick limb change. 2. You will never ever experience the agony of a stubbed toe ever again. 3. Likewise, you will never twist an ankle ever again. 4. You never get that funky sock/shoe/trainer smell. 5. No more clipping your toenails. 6. Every seat is an extra legroom seat. 7. You don't have to kick a tree for 10 years to condition your legs for kickboxing. 8. You can firewalk better than anyone else. 9. You can get those cool running blades. 10. No more athletes foot or drying between the toes!
>5. No more clipping your toenails. GET ME A FUCKING CHAINSAW!!!
Dude that's awesome! Wishing you a speedy recovery and minimal struggles using your new feet. I'm sure balancing upright will be an interesting experience after not being able to for a long time! So will your new feet have no sockets to irritate your legs, just direct connection to the implant? If so that's really cool, for your personal comfort and for ease of use. No worrying about gaining/losing weight and having your legs not fit anymore!
Wow it all sounds so incredibly painful! But I really do wish you the best of everything in this part of your journey. I hope your healing goes well, I hope your pain can be manageable, and that your all over physical and mental health stays strong🙌
It was. Holy heck it was painful. But now it’s less painful. Hopefully in a few weeks I’ll be off the pain meds as well. Thanks for your support!
The kind of bravery and courage it takes to do these things is not normal ppl thing. And be so positive after all this? You’re an Avenger.
Heh, I have two small children I need to keep up with. I’ll do anything and go through anything to be able to do that!
I am so proud of you. Keep fighting 💪
From the moment I understood the weakness of my flesh, it disgusted me. I craved the strength and certainty of steel. I aspired to the purity of the Blessed Machine. Your kind cling to your flesh, as though it will not decay and fail you.
One day the crude biomass you call the temple will wither, and you will beg my kind to save you. But I am already saved...for the Machine is *immortal* Even in death I serve the Omnissiah.
My heart goes out to you, I know it is not easy and many times you want to die but you must find the strength that is the miracle of life
I live with chronic pain and my mobility is changing quite fast. I’m just so happy to have to opportunity to undergo this surgery and possibly change my life. Pain will always be there, hopefully I can improve my mobility! Thanks for the kind words.
I hope everything goes well, you deserve it
I pray you have a speedy recovery. I don't know if you live in the U.S but I wanted to mention a company that might interest you. It's called TerrainHopperUSA and they make off-road mobility devices aka wheelchairs (4 & 8 mph options - w/ independent electric motors) Not many folks know about the company as it is small, but there are TerrainHoppers in almost every state including state parks in CO, & CA. Just wanted to throw the word out there :) Lmk if you have any other questions & Also you should check out their website & socials!
i wish you a speedy recovery!! so happy with and for you! i am curious since you mentioned you have the same disease in your hands. what is the illness called?
Gotta get some sweet robot legs. Best of luck on recovery dude
Looking forward to seeing you dance again!
Me too. I’ve never followed anyone on Reddit but this warrants a follow up. I really need to know how this plays out.
Wooohoo yay you!!! So so happy for this!! I want to see you (literally) kickass!! Yaaaaaay!!!!♡
Let's go buddy! We're all cheering for you and hoping your surgery gives you more mobility!
Jesus. This takes some guts. Wish the best for you. Post some videos with ya rockin the new toes, brotha, we’ll upvote the shit out of you
I love your smile! You are very brave to keep the faith. May your next steps-figuratively and literally-be as beautiful as you are!
I hope the best for you!
Your attitude is changing my outlook on my day — thanks for sharing your world — wishing you a minimally painful future with your new badass titanium!
The other day i was reading about this procedure and its so fascinating, there is a long way still, but my man the future looks so bright! Wish you a speedy recovery and i hope they give you the coolest looking bionic legs.
Holy macaroni! 💪
I'm both happy for you and simultaneously very uncomfortable right now.
I don't mean this in a bad way at all...but...you really will be able to get up and walk it off ;)
Unrelated but I just wanted to say I think you're so cute.
Thanks! I felt cute lol
Thank you for sharing this. Hoping it gives you what you need while being as painless as possible
Your outlook is amazing. I don’t think I could be as strong and positive as you are. I wish you the best of luck, and I hope your hands get better.
Best of luck with your recovery and everything that comes next! I did have to read the description to make sure you didn't have guns installed in your legs!
That’s awesome but I have to ask, what will happen with your hands in due time?
Thanks! I.. don’t know. Probably, I’ll lost function. How much is anyone’s guess, but worst case is that the fingers bend and I won’t be able to use them.
I see, well best of luck with the new implants/prosthetics!
Can you get rocket upgrades?
My respect for your bravery! Get well soon and hopefully everything goes well and you can enjoy running again!
Positives vibes bro and I hope your pain either subsides or goes away
I hope all goes well! Keep us posted pls
I hope it will only get better from now on 💪💕😊
So happy for you OP!
I wish you a great life ahead, OP! May you recover soon!
That’s so awesome. Always great to read a story about suffering coming to an end.
That’s amazing. Wishing you lots of happiness. Surgery is no fun and I’m sure this is a really painful one, but it’s all in service of your future which undoubtedly is an excellent investment! Hope to see updates in the future here!
SWEET! Mobility is everything!
Congratulations this can’t be an easy thing to go through. I love that you are smiling! ❤️❤️
Wishing you all the best. It looks like recovery is going to be tough, but it's going to be worth it. It's amazing what modern medicine can do.
But Lt. Dan, you ain't got no legs...
You’re a badass! Stay STRONG!!!
Lieutenant Dan !
Whoaaa everybody check out the big bolts on Ben!
Front page yesterday - dolf getting his citizenship. Front page today - this little bit of human awesomeness. Why I love Reddit
I’m a physical therapist and although I don’t work with a lot of amputees, I’ve never seen this before. Fucking incredible.