Soldier Gets New Prosthetic Design

Josh Olson can never forget the date of October 27, 2003. The young soldier on duty in Iraq was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade and lost his entire leg. An infantry squad leader, Olson knew immediately that the leg was gone, but says, "I was just happy to be alive!" Stan Patterson, CP, (left) and Dennis Clark, CPO (right) accompany Josh Olson as he tries his new prosthesis. Olson is a hip-disarticulation amputee who has been at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC, for about 17 months, undergoing rehabilitation and working with prosthetists. He's an optimistic, young soldier who hopes to become the first hip-disarticulation amputee to return to active duty. He had already made strides despite his disability. Olson has made the Army marksmanship team, and at press time is waiting for orders to be called up to Fort Benning, Georgia, to train with the team. He can then start competing in Army shooting events. Through his involvement with the Army marksmanship team, Olson ultimately hopes to make the US marksmanship team and compete in the 2008 Olympic Games. Olson received his first prosthesis in January 2004, and a desire to stay in the Army is his driving motivation to become better at using the prosthesis. "My big thing is that it's easier to get along without the leg, but I have to work at making myself get better at it to stay in the Army." Although Olson has state-of-the-art technology, including Otto Bocks C-Leg®, heterotopic ossification (HO), a frequent complication of blast wounds, was making his socket uncomfortable to wear. To aid in his rehabilitation, Olson began working with Stan Patterson, CP, and inventor who owns a patient care facility, Prosthetic & Orthotics Associates, Orlando, Florida. Patterson also is a partner in Conundrum Research Labs, Orlando. Olson and Dennis Clark, CPO, Clark & Associates Prosthetics & Orthotics, Waterloo, Iowa, who has been working with lower-limb amputees at Walter Reed, flew to Orlando, and the trio got to work. New Design Created The Olson Design incorporates an anterior/posterior swivel lanyard built into the liner. They worked on different designs with Craig Mackenzie, CP, of Velocity Labs, Orlando, Florida. Mackenzie was formerly head of research and development at TEC Interface and now operates his own R&D facility and central fab. Patterson explains, "The problem we faced was that there currently was no conventional way of cushioning the HO caused by the explosive nature of the injury while at the same time trying to eliminate as much migration as possible, so Josh could achieve a smoother and steadier gait. The initial design - now known as the Olson Design - incorporates an anterior/posterior swivel lanyard built into the liner. The individual can then step into the liner, similar to a pair of boxer shorts, with the involved side closed off with silicone. As a result, the prosthesis can be held on by cinching the lanyard through the socket, creating a positive lock between the liner and the socket." Patterson continues, "This allows us to achieve lower socket trim lines and a much lighter socket. The second stage of the design will incorporate all of the above along with elevated vacuum. This would allow a significant increase in function and a more energy-efficient gait. Dennis actually had Josh walking independently in the new design. This was something he was unable to accomplish prior to coming to Orlando". Patterson adds, "We coined the name Olson Design because of Josh's necessity, and as they say, necessity is the mother of all inventions." Says Olson, "I'm kind of the guinea pig to see how well I can make it work." He has run into a few glitches along the way, but adds, "So far I am adjusting well and learning to use the prosthesis much better." Olson's Future Goals For the future, Olson wants to stay in the Army as long as he can. "I want to prove that hip disartics still have a place in the Army. We still have a lot to offer." Olson says his positive outlook is due to his family. "I can't let my family and my fiancée down by giving up." Olson hopes to continue his active lifestyle and even start running again. "I just want to get back to living as normal a life as is humanly possible," he says. "I want to be one of those guys who proves everyone wrong."

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