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Transfemoral amputee

Premier Partner Q&A: Anthony Tufano of Mutual Orthopedics

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Anthony Tufano, CP, is the president of Mutual Orthopedics.  He strives to achieve an optimal outcome for every individual patient by combining new technologies with the traditions that have made his long-standing practice a success.

 

Infinite Socket, Mutual Orthopedics
Mutual Orthopedics CP Anthony Tufano with Infinite Socket TF patient

What brought you into the Orthotics and Prosthetics industry?

My practice is third generation.  First was my great-uncle in 1957, then my father, and now myself.  What is now Mutual Orthopedics was officially founded by my father in 1978, and I took over in 2002.  It is one of the oldest companies in the Long Island area. Some of our patients have been with us for forty years.  We have expanded to two offices, one in Brooklyn and one in Long Island, with a sizable prosthetics and orthotics laboratory at the Long Island location.

 

How have you seen the industry change over the course of your career in prosthetics?

The uptake in technology alone has changed the way we practice.  Today, we have access to a whole slew of technology that we did not have previously. We as prosthetists can make people much more comfortable than we could years ago. A while ago, everyone had a standard prosthesis.  That was the challenge back then. It was a lot easier to run the business before, but the technology wasn’t there. Currently, the struggles of operating a practice are related to the changing environment of health care, rather than technological limitations.  Prosthetists are now better able to understand patient needs and fulfill many more of their dreams due to those advancements. As a prosthetist, you want to make your patients more comfortable than they were when they came in. You want them to be able to do things they haven’t been able to do before and to maximize the potential that they have.  The best thing for me to see is a patient coming back after they’ve gotten their prosthesis with parts worn out because they’ve been using it so much.

 

Mutual Orthopedics, Infinite Socket TT-S
Mutual Orthopedics CP Anthony Tufano with Infinite Socket TT-S patient

Can you describe the working relationship you’ve had with LIM Innovations?

I have a long-standing patient who has been with Mutual Orthopedics since the 80s.  About three years ago, he came to me wanting to be fit with the Infinite Socket. After meeting with Geoff, a representative from LIM, we set the process in motion and got the patient fitted. The Infinite Socket is fun to fit, and getting it just right for the patient is a great experience.  Once the fit is flawless, it’s a slam dunk. The appeal of working with LIM is they evolve with you and listen to the input of the prosthetist. It is a collaborative process. Like any product, it has the occasional pitfall now and then, but LIM works efficiently with the clinician to find the optimal resolution.

What would you say are the benefits of the Infinite Socket versus a conventional socket?

In my opinion, the beauty of the Infinite Socket is the adjustability.  It allows for the socket to evolve on a continuous basis along with the patient’s residual limb.  I can get patients to the next level of comfort by tweaking and adjusting to accommodate fluctuations in volume.  The comfort of sitting that the Infinite Socket provides is a huge factor for patients as well. The flexible struts are a draw as well; having something that isn’t rigid when a patient is ambulating on it is a big deal. The Infinite Socket permits a dynamic fitting as opposed to a static one. I love the product.

 

Nancy’s Search for a Better Solution

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Nancy, from Texas, shares her amputation journey, her opinions on the Infinite Socket TF, and discusses her near and long term goals.

Until August of 1989, my life pretty much had been normal as a young mother of three. We had attended a family reunion where I was casually playing a game of baseball. The next day I noticed my left knee was sore but blew it off because of the activities the day before. However, within a few weeks, I wasn’t able to walk without being in severe pain.

This spurred a trip to the doctor, where they took some x-rays and ultimately found a tumor in the bone at the knee joint. I knew my life was going to change forever. On my 31st birthday, September 1989, I took my first step into MD Anderson, a cancer research hospital to undergo further tests. A few weeks later they confirmed it was cancer (osteosarcoma), prompting my year-long battle. In March of 1990, they removed my knee plus some bone above it, replacing it with a mechanical knee and rods.

In 1992 and 1994 the hospital undertook revision surgery because one of the rods cracked, and continued to come loose. The issues continued until 2004, where the doctors warned that if the same thing happened again, there wouldn’t be anything else they could do due to having no more bone to work with.

In 2010 the very same rod broke, with the family not expecting amputation. Every attempt had been made at salvaging the leg, only for them to all fail. That was a hard year! In September of 2011, the decision was made. On September 30 they took the leg; so began a new battle.

Over seven years I had attempted to use five traditional sockets, none of which were usable let alone comfortable. My Mobility was far from where it should have been. I would only wear the leg when I had to go to town or something similar in nature, but never more than four hours a day at most. I hated it! I just wanted to stick to my wheelchair and forget about everything I’d been through.

In searching for something new, something better, I came across the Infinite Socket. My mind said “This is it! this is what you need!” Now I just need to find a prosthetist that would do it, as the one I had wasn’t in favor of it. He wanted me to stick to the traditional socket types, which just wasn’t working out for me, so I reached out to LIM for help finding a prosthetist in my local area who has fit their product before. They duly obliged and connected me to a wonderful prosthetist at Prostheticare, here in Texas. The process of changing prosthetist was easy and simple, and the clinician there did a great job ensuring that I got the best fit possible.

Granted I’ve only had the Infinite Socket for two months now, but I have seen a BIG improvement. It is SO comfortable and my mobility has improved greatly. I’m now wearing my leg 8 to 10 hours a day, every day! I’m able to get around so well that my husband has told me I need to slow down. I feel like my old self again, and finally in tune with my artificial leg. I went with a pin lock system with the ratchet tensioner at the top. I really love the ratchet because it’s easy to adjust the socket throughout the day to find the best fit for me. You’ll never get me in a traditional socket again.

For the first time in seven years, I’m able to go shopping without using one of those electric scooters. I’m now able to walk around the whole store without regrets, pain or sores. With any luck, I should be able to lose some of this weight I put on since the amputation and enjoy living life to the fullest once more.

My goals are to be more helpful to my family and maybe get a part-time job. My family keeps me busy but there is so much more I could do for them.  I think getting a job would help me feel even better about myself to able to contribute financially.

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Introducing the 4-Hole Base Plate

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In 2014 we successfully launched LIM Innovations® Infinite Socket™ TF, fitting over 1500 patients along the way. To celebrate, we are adding to the current Infinite Socket™TF components with the introduction of the 4-hole base plate.

“Our job is to invent on behalf of our users, and we only move forward with creating products that significantly improve their experience,” states Jeremy Galten, LIM Innovations’ SVP of Product. Galten continues, “The new base plate design, which no longer incorporates the pinch bolt, provides even greater security for the patient while providing clinicians maximum flexibility when connecting components.”

The four-hole base plate allows the clinician to find the optimal offset for limb length and alignment through the built-in line of progression. It continues to offer 5 mm of radial slide and 40º of angular pivot per strut. The 4-hole base plate has been also been designed to maximize structural integrity enhancing peace of mind for both the clinician and the patient.

The technical aspects of the base plate family, which comes in four shapes and sizes are broken down below.

Angular alignment built in (degrees) Posterior offset of knee with respect to socket (mm) Lateral offset of knee with respect to socket (mm)
  0 0 0
  0 22 0
  0 30 20
  15 60 20

 

The 4-hole base plate will be available on all new orders submitted after May 1st.

For further information and to order the Infinite Socket™TF visit the Infinite TF page or call 1-866-612-1998 today.

Honoring Tammy Myers

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It is with a heavy heart that we share the news of the passing of beloved LIMLegend Tammy Myers.  Tammy passed away on April 6th after a valiant battle with cancer. A strong voice for the limb loss/ limb difference community, she worked tirelessly to help others adjust and live their best lives. She left a legacy of service to the limb loss community that will continue through her support group Amputees in Motion.  

Tammy became an above knee amputee in 2007 due to a blood clot. Determined to turn a tragedy into a triumph, within one year she rallied and founded her support group. She threw her heart and talents into her support group and helped countless people in the community through her efforts.  Speaking about her group, Tammy said, “I had finally found my passion and my purpose! What a blessing! I started working out, being a social butterfly, not taking no for an answer and learned I was stronger than I ever knew. After speaking to old and young people alike without judgment, I learned one can make a difference. To kick off the inspiring nature of AIM I went skydiving with my son to show that life doesn’t end after amputation; there’s always a way to do things and live your dreams.”

Tammy started to use the Infinite socket™ TF and became one of LIM Innovations® biggest cheerleaders. True to her vibrant personality, she personalized the strut covers with leopard print fabric and proudly talked about her experiences whenever possible. She credited the Infinite socket™ with allowing her to continue to live her life without limits.  

Always quick to pick up the phone to contact somebody in need of a supportive ear, Tammy helped countless amputees adjust to limb loss over the past decade. She made friends wherever she went and was an active peer visitor through the Amputee Coalition. Her bubbly personality helped to bring the timid out of their shells, and she had a knack for making everybody feel comfortable.

Tammy will be deeply missed by those who knew her. The limb loss/ limb difference community is better because of her efforts. We honor her legacy and her spirit. 

Amy’s Life In Motion

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28 years ago Amy’s life was set on a different track when she received the diagnosis of Osteosarcoma. Initially, the physicians were able to save her leg from the ravages of the disease, but she was in constant pain. After a 16 year battle against pain, Amy opted to have her leg amputated above the knee on February 20, 2006. Speaking of the decision to amputate, Amy says, “I have never regretted my amputation. More so now that I have a LIM Innovations® Infinite Socket™.”

Amy was initially fitted with a conventional hard shell socket. She remembers it fitting “okay” in the beginning, but as her limb volume began to shrink and fluctuate, she struggled to get an optimal fit. Many times she was not able to use her prosthesis at all because the socket was so uncomfortable. Frustrated but undeterred, Amy continued to search for other options.

When Amy saw a Facebook Ad featuring the Infinite Socket™. She requested more information and, through that email, set her life on a path towards comfort. “I could not be happier. With the Infinite Socket™, I don’t have the fitting problems I had with the conventional socket. LIM has given me my mobility back.”

“Now when I’m asked about my leg I immediately tell them about my Infinite Socket™. Sometimes I’m asked what LIM stands for and I tell them that I think it means Life In Motion. LIM Innovations® put my life back in motion! Now when I have fluctuation issues from day to day or when working out, I can adjust accordingly, easily and discreetly. My Infinite Socket™ has truly been a blessing.”

With Amy’s living her life in motion, she is setting new goals. She is eager to compete in a mud run and all-terrain challenges; activities that she never dreamed possible when she was struggling with a conventional socket. She is grateful that her Infinite Socket™ allows her to be an active and involved Grandma to her beloved Grandchildren, and she is looking forward to continuing to volunteer with the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Oklahoma.

“If I could give one piece of advice, I would encourage anyone to give it a try (Infinite Socket™). Once you’ve experienced it, you’ll never go back to the conventional socket. My above-knee Infinite Socket™ has set my life in motion, and I no longer feel held back by my prosthesis.”