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Amputee Rehabilitation, Prosthetics and Orthotics
Selecting, applying and getting used to wearing a prosthetic or orthotic device takes time and patience. Our multidisciplinary team works closely with you every step of the way, helping you ease pain and improve function.
Prosthetics and Orthotics: Why Choose Johns Hopkins
Our team includes rehabilitation physicians, physical and occupational therapists, orthotists, prosthetists, nurses and rehabilitation psychologists.
Each of these specialists plays an important role in helping you get the training and develop the confidence you need to live your life to the fullest with an orthotic or prosthetic device.
We work with all kinds of orthotic devices, including bracing for the spine, hand, arm, foot and ankle. Our team helps people with spinal cord injury, stroke, multiple sclerosis, sports-related or traumatic injury, diabetic foot problems and similar conditions.
Our team is experienced in helping people with upper and lower limb amputations, including those undergoing targeted muscle reinnervation (TMR) to operate a motorized prosthetic.
Safely practice walking and other activities of daily living in our custom-built courtyard. We also have an anti-gravity treadmill and other equipment to help you ease back into your routine.
Request an Appointment:
443-997-5476
I like to think that I didn't have the foot amputated; I had it replaced. When thinking of it that way, I understand that I was not "losing" a foot – I was simply getting a much better and healthier one.
- a Johns Hopkins patient
Our Rehabilitation Approach
Evaluation
Your rehabilitation physician will start with a comprehensive evaluation. It includes assessing your everyday function, wounds, pain management needs, mental health and other factors. Based on this evaluation, we will develop a tailored treatment plan and coordinate care with other specialists.
Education
You will probably have several questions about your new device and the logistics of living with it. We take the time to talk to you about what to expect in terms of pain management, recovery and function. Our rehabilitation psychologists are also available to help you prepare mentally and emotionally for changes in your lifestyle.
Prosthesis or Orthosis Prescription
Our device specialists help you select or custom order a prosthetic or orthotic device with the right fit. We frequently work with patients who require specialized or high-tech devices for a specific activity, such as running. Beyond the initial fitting, we can also help you with future repairs, replacement and upgrades.
Physical Therapy for Foot and Leg Prosthetics and Orthotics
Our physical therapists can help you:
- prepare for leg and foot amputations or application of an orthotic device
- maintain and increase strength, flexibility, coordination and endurance
- transition to wearing a prosthetic or orthotic device with confidence and comfort
- learn how to use a leg or foot prosthesis for walking
- practice independent living skills
Occupational Therapy for Hand and Arm Prosthetics and Orthotics
Among our occupational therapists, we have specialists in hand therapy who can help you:
- prepare for arm and hand amputations or application of an orthotic device
- develop skills to perform daily activities after the amputation with confidence and comfort, and avoid complications
- learn how to use your prosthesis or orthotic in self-care, work and leisure
- train in one-handed skills
Osseointegration Clinic
Osseointegration is a surgical procedure that allows a prosthesis to attach to an implant in the bone of a residual limb. It's a potential solution for issues with traditional socket-based prostheses. Our expert team can help determine if this option is right for you.
Our Team
Barbara Jane De Lateur, M.D.
Expertise, Disease and Conditions:
Deconditioning, Gait Analysis, Gait Impairment, Musculoskeletal Disorders, Neuromuscular Disease, Orthotics
Marlis Gonzalez-Fernandez, M.D., Ph.D.
Expertise, Disease and Conditions:
Amputee Rehabilitation, Botulinum Toxin Injections, Dysphagia, Dysphagia Evaluation, Neuro Rehabilitation, Orthotics, Prosthetics, Rehabilitation, Spasticity Management, Speech and Language Disorders After Stroke, Swallowing Disorders
Mary Shaffer Keszler, M.D.
Expertise, Disease and Conditions:
Amputee Rehabilitation, Hyperhidrosis, Pain Management, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Prosthetic Evaluation, Prosthetics, Wound Care and Trauma
Rehabilitation After Below-the-Knee Amputation | Case Presentation
Marlis Gonzalez-Fernandez, M.D., talks about one of her patients who underwent amputation of the leg below the knee. She describes how, as a rehabilitation specialist, she consulted the patient before the surgery and helped him set goals and achieve them after the amputation.
Play Now
Rehabilitation After Targeted Muscle Reinnervation
After surgery to re-route remaining nerves, arm amputation patients can control a cutting-edge, motorized prosthetic via thought. Marlis Gonzalez-Fernandez, M.D., Ph.D., says a crucial step in the rehabilitative process, however, is helping each patient adjust to life without a limb. Read more.
Tackling Depression in People with Limb Loss
About 25 to 30 percent of people who experience an amputation develop clinical depression at some point in their lives. Well aware of this phenomenon, Stephen Wegener, Ph.D., M.A., has been helping patients manage the emotional and physical adaptation following amputation. Read more.
Patient Resources
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