Barr Video Shows Ertl Procedure

The Barr Foundation has completed two documentary videotape productions titled "The Ertl Procedure: Beyond the Bridge," Anthony T. Barr, Foundation president, announced November 6.

One film is a 72-minute surgical documentary intended for distribution to medical and teaching hospitals throughout the world. It will be available to doctors, medical students, amputee support groups, and prosthetists. The other film is a 20-minute promotional version.

Barr commented that many surgeons, faced with the necessity of removing a limb, regard amputee surgery as a personal failure as well as a failure of medical science. "Now amputees are coming to the Foundation or their insurance sources to request funding for a new prosthesis," Barr said. "They believe the prosthesis is the problem, when often it's a residual limb which is impossible to fit successfully."

Barr explains his reasons for tackling the film project: "Through its work the Barr Foundation has discovered hundreds of documented cases of amputees suffering from painful neuromas, instability of the fibula and tibia, detached muscle tissue, etc. In most cases these result from improper and antiquated surgical techniques. Such cases seem to be the norm more than exceptions, particularly in third-world countries where we have found many post-operative amputees with exposed tibias. Projections of 3,000 people per week in this country alone who will require amputation surgery shows that immediate attention should be given to this procedure as a viable alternative to the most often performed method of amputation surgery."

Barr noted that the Ertl procedure has been successfully performed on thousands of amputees, including his father, William G. Barr, a transfemoral amputee. "For eight years he too suffered unbearable pain and was told that severing the sciatic nerve was the only solution," Barr said. "However, in 1979 he opted to undergo the Ertl procedure as a 'reconstruction procedure' for his residual limb and was able to live many years with pain-free mobility." The films include several testimonials of transtibial and transfemoral amputees who have undergone this procedure as a primary and reconstruction alternative, along with testimonials from many prosthetists across the country who recognize the benefits of providing prosthetic rehabilitation to an Ertl recipient. Barr said.

The operation, as described in the 1980 book, Whole Again, coauthored by William G. Barr and Lee Whipple, consists of four main components: (1) excess nerves are removed from the residual limb; (2) arteries and veins are separated; (3) the periosteum is stretched down to cover the femur, and tiny islands of bone from the upper femur are then transplanted into the periosteum to create a protective bone flap on this weight-bearing point; and (4) the muscles are repositioned, stretched down, and joined, forming a cushion over the end of the femur, Barr explained.

"Prosthetists are often confronted with the patient's belief that it is the prosthesis that creates the pain and that a new one would take it away." Barr said. "The fact is that very few surgeons-vascular and orthopedic-have any current knowledge of proper amputee surgery or how the correct procedure can help minimize problems in the future.

"The instructional film documents the procedure so that others may be aware of its benefits," Barr said. "It takes the amputee from amputation surgery to prosthetic fitting and physical rehabilitation. It's a film starring the doctor, the prosthetist and the physical therapist-the dream team!"

Both versions of the film are expected to be available by December 3. For more information, contact the Barr Foundation, 136 Northeast Olive Way, Boca Raton, Florida 33432; 561.394.6514; fax: 561.391.7601; e-mail: t-barr@t-barr.com ; www.oandp.com/barr .

Barr Video Shows Ertl Procedure

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Next Step, Granite State O&P To Work Together

Seattle Systems Names Patterson

Seattle Systems Names Patterson

O&P JOBS

Now Hiring: Certified Prosthetist Orthotist (CPO)

ABC Certified Orthotic Fitter / Orthotic Assistant

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