About Us

To a prosthetist, the approach to creating a transfemoral, or above-knee (A/K), replacement limb can be considerably different than for a lower amputation level. Where a transtibial (B/K) prosthesis must replace the foot, ankle and part of the lower leg, an above-knee system adds the critical knee joint and part of the lemur...and the degree of difficulty jumps exponentially.

Fortunately, surgeons have become quite good at predicting the level at which amputation wound healing will be successful, reducing the number of unnecessarily high amputations. Still, nearly 20 percent of all individuals with limb loss in the U.S. have a transfemoral deficiency, and an estimated 29,000+ above-knee amputations are performed in this country annually.

For patients, an A/K prosthesis presents a much greater challenge than a B/K system, in terms of weight, energy expenditure, balance, safety, comfort, and functional mastery. Thus, we select and recommend particular components and materials that will help transfemoral amputees achieve their maximum possible rehabilitation outcome. The process of accomplishing this outcome is as much art as science.

Ideally, prosthetic management involves the active participation of the patient's physician, amputating surgeon, family and physical therapist. Interviewing patient and family before surgery can give us a head start on planning a new amputee's course of treatment and prosthesis design.

Our three main questions:

• What can the patient physically—and mentally—do?
• How much residual limb do we have to work with?
• What are the patient's mobility and lifestyle desires?