“Amputee hails new prosthetic: ‘It’s like they’ve given me my leg back’”

Brilliant minds at a north London hospital, according to a story in The Guardian, have transformed the lives of amputees who are taking part in a trial that allows an artificial limb to be attached directly to the bone, giving them feeling and mobility beyond compare. Until now, they could not live their lives to the fullest, limited by their prosthetic.

Haroon Siddique, the author of the article, says that ITAP (intraosseous transcutaneous amputation prosthesis) is a discovery that allows them to feel normal. Instead of the traditional ball-and-socket joints that consist of a socket placed over the stump, there is a metal implant that is attached to the bone and sticks through the skin for the prosthetic to be attached to. This is, I think, a brilliant invention, giving thousands of people an opportunity to live their dreams, and get beyond their disabilities. It is indeed a like a dream come true for these people. They get another chance at complete happiness.

One of these people is a physicist who works at a hospital in southern London. He said that before the implant he was limited, like other amputees, even carrying crutches or a stick due to the discomfort of the socket. However, since the implant in 2008, he has climbed Kilimanjaro and walked 100km in the South Downs in just 26 hours. He has, in other words, taken advantage of this opportunity at a new way of life. This is, I think, inspiring. He says that “It’s like they’ve given me my leg back. I know that sounds a bit trite. I can walk as far as I like, do anything I want within reason. There’s no limit (see fig.1)

Figure 1: Mark O’Leary, physicist at a hospital in Southern London. Mark was one of the first to have the implant, and it has been a success.

Although only a small group of people can actually benefit from ITAP due to skin conditions, problems with the bone, etc.  that don’t allow the implant to function correctly, the ones who do will have significant benefits. ITAP may also affect the business that produces prosthetics, both in a good way and bad. The businesses that are not willing to start making ITAP will suffer with their economy, but those who do will gain greatly.

This new invention can be used by many different people the world over. Among those who would benefit the most are those who get wounded at war; soldiers that is. Short stumps, for example from explosions tend to create more problems when it comes to sockets. And young people tend to have great expectations of their prosthetics, when in fact; they are still at a great disadvantage due to the handicap. But with ITAP, these problems are now gone.

In the long run, this is good news. We don’t know how well ITAP will do on the market, as it is expensive, but well worth the money. It changes lives, literally. The people who are using it know what I’m talking about. Now, having a missing limb is not as hard as it used to be. There are ways around it, ways to still live a great life, and include all the aspects of it, doing what you always wanted, and not being held back by a the handicap.