Reading your post, and musing of a Saturday morning, it occurs to me that a matter of the
most, I repeat, the MOST central importance to the amputee (and to the prosthetist) is never
discussed here, at least in the time during which I have read this list. The area to which
I refer has to do CRITICALLY with the fit of the socket: casting the stump and modifying.
(And just a little further on, in alignment.) It is in this process that success or
difficulty is determined. It is also just in these actions that the talent of the
‘operator’ is most obvious. All of the interactions between amputee and ‘restorative
physician’ are focussed here in how the hands perform in bringing to bear accumulated
knowledge of the amputee’s lifestyle and the measurements and the physical examination and
probing……it all comes together here, in casting and modifying.
Yet there clearly is no rush to explore this critical part in discussions and exchanges
here. In part, this reflects the fact that this part of the work is most fully learned
under the direct tutelage of the master craftsman, part of the extended residency. Still
one would imagine that there would be an eagerness evident in both the masters and the
novices here to exchange to what ever extent possible in an effort to improve
performance….SOOOOO much hardware (not blameworthy in itself)…. but SOOOOO little
‘laying on of hands’ (in fact nothing so far).
To whatever extent possible I would think you people would venture frequently into such
exchanges. From an amputee’s point of view, I could tolerate ANY hardware so long as the
socket and alignment were optimal. What gives?? GB.
