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Current Newsletter

Seating Children Without Legs

Christian Orthopaedic Partners (COP) received a request from Cirec Rehabilitation Center in Bogota, Colombia to seat two little boys born without legs.This vas a challenging task for the COP team which required a seating system that would prevent pressure areas and provide for safety in transfers and mobility. Hope Haven, Int'I selected 3 Enduro chairs, (10, 12, and 14 inches in width), low to the ground and with large wheels in front, which would make it easier and safer for the boys to learn to climb in and out of on their own.

The first little boy, Giovani Toro, age 2 (pictured left) examined each chair and quickly bonded to the smallest one (10 inch). His parents were concerned that there was little room for growth, but we assured them that the chair would most likely last for at least a year, at which time COP will replace it for a larger one.

The task continued with designing a cushion that would relieve pressure on his buttocks, plus help him maintain his balance in the chair while pushing. Without the leverage of legs for counter-balance, he required his hands for support. However, he couldn't use his hands to push the chair and at the same time use them for balance. Foam was used to relieve pressure points and extra layers of foam in front of his lower torso was added for additional stability, creating a low bucket-like area in the cushion. This was covered in vinyl and velcro was used to attached it to the hard seat of the wheelchair. A seat belt was not possible due to the absence of hips, so a chest strap with a moderate amount of elastic give was added for safety.

Success!! The little boy and his parents loved it and he happily wheeled himself around the center and out the front door.

The second boy, Jose Martinez, age 4 (pictured right) came the next day with new challenges for the team but they were able to meet each one with equal success.

Computer Therapy

A young lady is using a computer program to learn how to control muscles in her shoulder and back in order to eventually manipulate a device known as a "myoelectric prosthesis", or computerized arm. The computer is teaching her to use other muscles to replace those that would ordinarily be used to open and close a hand.

Using electrodes that "read" the electrical impulses of these muscles through her skin, she is learning to tell the computer to open and close a prosthetic hand. The computer program is then able to translate these impulses into computer language, so that when she contracts the correct muscles in sequence, the hand will open and close. When the computer senses the correct sequence, the picture of the hand opens on the screen. Through much practice, she will be able to become skilled at the correct sequences to open and close the hand. Once she becomes proficient through practice on the computer, she will receive a prosthesis that will have a "real" hand that will be programmed to listen to the sequence of muscles that she has learned to use through training on the computer. This will provide her with the ability to grasp lightweight objects and become even more independent in her life.