Welcome to the Summit City Family!

There’s a decent amount of irony behind the phrase “what to expect” as no one expects to experience limb loss in their lifetime. It can be scary and raise an endless list of questions and uncertainties about your future. It is the goal of our team to guide you along this new chapter of your life with an empathetic ear and an open heart.

Consultation:

A member of the Summit City family will meet with you either before or immediately after your surgery and answer any questions you may have about the overall process. Consultations are completely free of charge and can also take place in our office or at medical facilities such as rehabilitation clinics or nursing homes. You will be provided contact information for our office as we want to be readily available for the questions that arise throughout your journey. We pride ourselves on discussing the process with your family members and friends as amputation affects more than just the amputee. You are never alone, and we are always available to help.

Wait, when will I receive my prosthesis?

No doubt by now, you have already wondered when you will receive your prosthesis. This is the most commonly asked question by new patients and the honest answer is that it is different for everyone. The Summit team works diligently to ensure that your insurance company will cover a portion of the cost of your prosthesis and keep your bill as low as possible. The majority of insurance companies follow Medicare guidelines, which comes with a fair amount of paperwork that we will request from your physician. We strive to keep you updated on the process until you are ready to be scheduled for your next appointment. Not to worry, we utilize this authorization time to begin early shrinker protocols.

Initial Evaluation:

Let’s talk about your goals! During your Initial Evaluation, your Prosthetist will ask you a series of questions that will help them identify what type of device might be best for you. They will ask you questions about your home life, work requirements, personal goals and will assess your activity level to determine a custom path for you.

During this time, you will remain engaged with our team as we work with your physician to fit you with a shrinker to help shape and decrease the swelling of your residual limb.

Tell me more about these ‘Shrinkers’:

Shrinkers are made of an elastic, cloth material that ultimately prepares you for the eventual measurement or scanning for a prosthetic socket and can also help to decrease your phantom limb sensation or pain. These are prescribed by your physician and are typically worn 23 hours of the day, allowing 1 hour per day for you to bathe. They are provided to you in pairs so that you can wear one and then hand wash the other with a mild soap while the other is washed and dried for next day use.

The Fitting Process:

This step is especially important as we design a custom, comfortable fitting socket tailored specifically for the shape of your residual limb. Over the years, the prosthetic industry has evolved with a wide range of different imaging techniques. Your prosthetic team will discuss and choose a measurement or scanning technique that is best suited for you, which will ultimately lead to the most comfortable fitting socket for you. Even the most technologically advanced prosthetic foot, knee or arm are nearly useless if paired with an ill-fitting socket. Your residual limb will naturally fluctuate in size throughout the day, and you will be educated on the use of your liner and socks.

ITEMS & TERMS TO KNOW:

Liners fit over your residual limb and are the protective barrier between your residual limb and the socket. They also play a key role in skin and bone protection and could play a role in how your prosthesis connects to (or stays on) your residual limb. In the prosthetic world, selecting a liner is a lot like car shopping. There are seemingly endless options and styles, and it can be overwhelming. Your Prosthetist will select the best-suited style and size of liner for you and will educate you on the basics of wear and care:

Make sure that the gel material is facing out and hand wash either at the sink or in the shower with a gentle, unscented soap (preferably the same that you use to wash your body). Rinse thoroughly with water.

Completely invert the liner so that the gel material is now facing in and let it air dry either on a stand or a towel. Never put your liners in the washing machine or dryer.

Once completely dry, store at room temperature away from dust and pet hair. Remember, whatever sticks to the gel material will then be touching your skin!

Remember how we mentioned that your residual limb will fluctuate in size throughout the day? This is perfectly normal and happens naturally as your activity increases or as you gain or lose weight. Socks are utilized to help “fill in the gaps” between your liner and the socket and offset the changes in size, up or down. Socks come in a variety of sizes (commonly referred to as “ply”) and your Prosthetist will help you identify the difference between a 1-ply, 3-ply and 5-ply. Sock management is like riding a bike. It takes time to understand the balance of when you need a sock and what size, but once you have it down, you’ll be a pro.

Completely invert the liner so that the gel material is now facing in and let it air dry either on a stand or a towel. Never put your liners in the washing machine or dryer.

Once completely dry, store at room temperature away from dust and pet hair. Remember, whatever sticks to the gel material will then be touching your skin!

The Difference Between a Diagnostic and Dynamic Fitting:

The next step in the process is the Diagnostic Fitting, which means that your Prosthetist has created what is known as a “test socket” from your last measurement appointment. It will be made from a transparent material so that your Prosthetist can identify areas that need to be adjusted. This will be your first opportunity to safely stand up in the parallel bars so that your Prosthetist can identify and assess your socket of where certain areas need to be tightened or loosened based on your feedback for a proper fit.

We’re getting closer!

Next comes the Dynamic Fitting where you will safely walk in your test socket in the parallel bars while your Prosthetist analyzes your walking pattern and makes the needed adjustments to the alignment of the prosthesis. For many patients, this particular appointment is considered a huge milestone as it is often the first time they’re able to take a few steps since the amputation.

Delivery Day!

You made it! This is the day when your Prosthetist reveals the final, custom-made prosthesis specifically designed for you. You will be educated on how to properly take on and off the prosthesis, the wear schedule, the importance of shoe selection, and how to address common issues with your skin. The importance and benefits of physical and/or occupational therapy will also be discussed.

Follow-Up Care:

While your delivery day may feel like the finish line, we’re really just beginning! Follow-up care is crucial for even the most experienced amputee patient, and you will be guided on how often to schedule routine appointments to ensure the best fit and function of your prosthesis. We strive to make sure small problems do not turn into big problems!

Head over to our Youtube channel to see how patients are walking on their first day with their prosthesis!

YouTube