ACUTE PROSTHETIC UPPER EXTREMITY REHABILITATION OF BLAST WOUND INJURIES: A 21 MONTH REVIEW

Abstract

Providing prosthetic rehabilitative services for upper extremity amputees is a challenging endeavor. Providing acute rehabilitative services to multiple individuals who have suffered upper extremity blast wounds adds a further complexity. Perhaps not since the Vietnam War has an upper extremity traumatic amputee population of this size treated in one center utilizing consistent procedures and protocols. The authors have had the opportunity to provide upper extremity prosthetic services to over 90 U.S. soldiers injured in Iraq and Afghanistan over the last 21 months at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.