Return to duty after severe bilateral lower extremity trauma

Area of Science:

• Orthopaedic trauma surgery
• Rehabilitation medicine
• Prosthetic technology

Background:

• Combat-related extremity injuries often lead to poor functional outcomes.
• Servicemembers require specialized care to maximize functional capacity despite severe trauma.

Observation:

• An Active Duty Special Forces (SF) qualified senior noncommissioned officer (NCO) sustained severe extremity injuries.
• The patient presented with devastating limb trauma requiring advanced intervention.

Findings:

• A multidisciplinary program successfully salvaged the NCO's severely injured extremities.
• The salvage involved cutting-edge prosthetic technology and a novel physical rehabilitation approach.

Implications:

• This case demonstrates the potential for advanced interventions in managing severe combat orthopaedic trauma.
• Optimizing functional capacity in Servicemembers with extremity injuries is achievable through innovative multidisciplinary care.