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Bone overgrowth in the adult traumatic amputee
Nancy L Dudek1, Melanie N DeHaan, Meridith B Marks
1Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Canada.
American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
|October 21, 2003
Summary
Bone overgrowth, a common issue in child amputees, can also affect adults. This condition can cause residual limb pain and affect prosthetic use in adult amputees.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Surgical Complications
Background:
- Bone overgrowth of the residual limb is a known complication in pediatric amputees, leading to pain and prosthetic issues.
- Reports of this phenomenon in adult amputees are rare, making its diagnosis and management less understood.
Observation:
- Two adult patients with traumatic transfemoral amputations developed distal residual limb pain within a year post-amputation.
- Radiographic evidence revealed new bone growth from the residual femur into surrounding soft tissues in both cases.
Findings:
- The observed bone overgrowth significantly limited prosthetic use and ambulation distance in both adult patients.
- This suggests that bone overgrowth is a potential cause of residual limb pain in adult amputees.
Implications:
- Adult amputees experiencing residual limb pain should be evaluated for bone overgrowth.
- Considering bone overgrowth in the differential diagnosis can lead to more accurate and effective treatment strategies for adult amputees.