Follow-up and guidance after Osseointegration

Currently, osseointegration is only offered in a few specialised centres in Belgium. In the Netherlands, click prostheses are slightly more widely available, but still limited to a handful of centres of expertise. Spronken Orthopaedics itself (and the Amputee Care Center by Spronken) does not offer osseointegration surgery, but does offer close cooperation with specialised surgeons and rehabilitation doctors in rehabilitation centres for post-treatment or prosthesis fitting in patients with an osseointegration implant in the femur or tibia. We would be happy to visit you at your rehabilitation centre, at the request of your rehabilitation doctor.

Yes. As an amputation surgeon or rehabilitation doctor, it is best to contact a specialised orthopaedic company such as Amputee Care Centre by Spronken. Our prosthetists are mobile and we are happy to work on your team, in your hospital or rehabilitation centre. Any surgeon or rehabilitation doctor (physical medicine) can easily make an appointment with our coordinator to discuss cooperation.

There are specialised centres, such as the Radboudumc (NL) or the Charité in Berlin (D), where femoral osseointegration is also used successfully in carefully selected patients. Thereby, close cooperation with an experienced prosthetist team, such as the expert prosthetists at the Amputee Care Centre, is essential for matching the exoprosthesis and load training.

Yes. An important difference in designing a click-bone prosthesis on an osseointegrated implant lies in the difference between pin load and sphere load. The connection (suspension) may also differ.

Pin loading implies that axial forces are transferred directly to a central rod-shaped component. This requires very precise alignment and requires controlled loading during the rehabilitation process.
Spherical loading, applied to the Keep Walking implant, provides a ball-and-socket-like coupling with a greater degree of rotational freedom and shock absorption. This distributes forces more efficiently and facilitates adjustments in the position and length of the prosthesis.

If you have complaints about your prosthesis after osseointegration, it is important to contact your treatment team. Problems such as pain, instability, redness around the skin passage or difficulty walking may indicate overuse, misalignment of your leg prosthesis or even infection. An experienced prosthetist, ideally within a specialised centre such as the Amputee Care Center, can analyse the cause and guide you to an appropriate solution. Don't wait too long: early intervention prevents more serious complications.

Yes. Would you like a second opinion with another orthopaedic company? Of course you can do so at any time. You don't even have to give an excuse or reason for this. As a patient, you have free choice of healthcare provider. You can call the Amputee Care Center to make a consultation appointment. Together we will explore whether things could possibly be better or different. An advice appointment is completely free of charge and without obligation.

In our experience at Amputee Care Center, this varies from person to person. Some people walk independently after only a few weeks, while others need several months. Important factors for recovery include your general condition, but also whether you have experience with previous prostheses. Either way, at Amputee Care Center we always guide you step by step.

Most people experience some discomfort in the beginning when building up load, but real pain does not belong. We work with a tailor-made build-up schedule. If you experience pain, we adjust the schedule immediately. We are here for you at Amputee Care Center.

Daily cleansing is hugely important. You will learn from our experts at Amputee Care Center how to keep the skin and the connection to the implant clean. We will also tell you what to look out for and when to contact us. Always make sure you follow our advice; the care required is different for each person.

No worries! This is more common and usually easy to fix at our prosthesis centre. Your body changes as you get older and time passes, and so the prosthesis sometimes has to change with it. In case of complaints (such as instability or discomfort), we recommend you always contact us. We will review the adjustment and provide a comfortable solution. You can always contact us for aftercare. All aftercare consultations are free of charge with us. Take advantage of it!

Yes. The goal of a click prosthesis is improved functionality. Most people experience more freedom of movement with a click prosthesis than with a classic socket prosthesis. Depending on the type of sport or profession, we look together at what is feasible and what adjustments may be needed. At Amputee Care Center, we have a lot of experience with both top athletes with a prosthesis and amputees with physically demanding professions.

As with any other type of leg prosthesis, we recommend annual check-ups. This way, we can solve small problems early. After all, prevention is always better than cure! Repairs to your prosthesis and minor adjustments are reimbursed annually by the health insurance company. The annual denture check-up and repair monitors the guarantee conditions of the prosthetic components. Take advantage of it!

Your eligibility for osseointegration is assessed by your rehabilitation doctor, surgeon, physiotherapist, often in consultation with your prosthetist - orthopaedic technologist.  Each healthcare provider looks at your physical condition, your activity level, the condition of your stump and bone, your motivation and your goals. A thorough, multidisciplinary evaluation determines whether osseointegration is safe, suits you and realistically matches your expectations. Sometimes, then, another solution turns out to be more suitable.

Once your rehabilitation doctor or surgeon confirms that the implant is sufficiently ingrown, we at Amputee Care Center start making a lightweight, comfortable custom-made click prosthesis. This fits seamlessly to the transcutaneous implant in your bone. We take into account your gait pattern, activities and any sports requirements. Thanks to our experience with systems such as the Keep Walking implant and advanced technology, we ensure a perfectly matched high-tech solution.

After surgery, we guide you intensively with a personalised exercise programme to adjust your new leg prosthesis. You will work with our prosthetists, bandagists and orthopaedic technologists on gait training, balance, obstacles, climbing stairs and safely loading your implant. We also train your proprioception and muscle control. Rehabilitation exercises are tailored to your pace and feedback. You will also learn how to care for the skin around the stoma and recognise when something is wrong. This keeps you safe and mobile.

An osseointegration prosthesis gives you new freedom, but it also requires mental adaptability. Some people temporarily experience less self-confidence or have to get used to their changed body. At Amputee Care Center, we offer psychological counselling.  Whether you are returning to work, sport or your daily life: we are right beside you. Coming back stronger mentally is also part of good prosthetic care.

Our support does not stop after your prosthesis is made. With regular check-ups, we closely monitor the functioning of your prosthesis. Parts are maintained or replaced in time, and we look at whether new technology offers advantages. This follow-up at the Amputee Care Center is free of charge for the patient. The mutual insurance company or insurance company covers annual repair or check-up of your prosthesis. As an Amputee Care Center patient, you can always contact us with questions or new needs. We remain your permanent point of contact for optimal care and support, even if this is several times a year.