Development of Osseointegrated Implants for Soldier Amputees Following Orthopaedic Extremity Trauma

The goal of this research program is to develop safe and efficacious osseointegrated implants that can be implanted into our warrior amputees who have limited residual limb length, extensive heterotopic ossification or difficulty with socket suspension type systems, leaving them with a non-functional limb or limbs. The new technology is to assure skin attachment at the percutaneous site, where the implant exits the skin, to prevent infection. Strategies explored in this research are the use of porous coating biomaterials that will allow immediate skeletal and subdermal skin attachment to facilitate a single stage operation for eventual rapid patient rehabilitation. The safe and efficacious introduction of the osseointegrated implant technology for our deserving warriors is the overall goal of our program.