What you need to know
According to a news release, the program seeks to improve the quality of life and functional outcomes for patients by combining limb preservation, amputation care and reconstructive solutions. The program is the first in South Texas to offer osseointegration, a state-of-the-art procedure in which the prosthetic limb is directly attached to the skeleton. The procedure enhances comfort, control and mobility when compared to a traditional socket prosthetic. The program is also designed around a patient-centric approach, focusing on long-term recovery, the release states.
The program is led by Joseph Alderete, a retired Army colonel and associate clinical professor in the department of orthopaedics at the Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine at UT San Antonio. According to the release, Alderete is a leading military orthopedic surgeon with experience in combat trauma care, and is one of the first surgeons to perform osseointegration in the country.
“By offering osseointegration, comprehensive rehabilitation, state of the art orthotic and prosthetic care, and patient goal centric support, we’re helping patients move forward with greater function, fewer complications and renewed independence,” Alderete said.
The Limb Optimization Program is composed of a collaborative team of surgeons, rehabilitation specialists, prosthetists and researchers, with expertise in orthoplastics, behavioral health, nutrition, physical and occupational therapy, orthotics and prosthetics and translational research, the release states.
Additionally, the program offers resources for individuals with diabetes and other chronic diseases, which can cause limb complications.
“Conditions like cancer, diabetes and other chronic diseases put people at risk of losing a limb every day,” Ashlee Blume, medical director of the Limb Optimization Program, said. “Access to coordinated, advanced care close to home is critical, and this program helps patients preserve their quality of life.”
What they’re saying
“The Limb Optimization Program empowers us to deliver life-changing procedures that address complex needs for all patients,” Robert Leverence, vice dean for clinical affairs and executive director of UT Health Physicians, said.
“Treating limb loss means reclaiming mobility and the ability to perform everyday activities,” Robert Quinn, professor and chair of the department of orthopaedics at UT Health San Antonio, said. “Patients will receive coordinated, personalized and expert care that supports their recovery and promotes sustained overall health.”
