Rehabilitation after Amputation

Several years ago I worked with a young woman who sustained a traumatic amputation at the wrist level while at work. She worked in a lab at a GE plant. They recovered the severed portion and it was replanted in a seventeen hour surgery. I worked with her approximately 2 weeks after the replant when she was initially discharged from the hospital. She was extremely compliant and followed all of my instructions and the doctor's to a "T".

She was the ideal patient. She underwent one additional surgery to free scarring around the extensor tendons, which I was able to observe.

A year and a half after her initial injury and replant her employer offered her the option of medically retiring at half pay for the rest of her life or returning to work at her pre-injury salary at the same plant. After some serious deliberation, my patient decided to return to work. She now is working in a different capacity, but works full time at GE, plays the piano, types and has very minimal restrictions in her motion or sensation. The employer made arrangements for a makeup expert to match skin tone so her scar very minimally shows. I was also involved in doing a work site visit to help determine where she could work safely. How many people would have made her choice not to take the retirement and then cruise on?? She and I still remain friends to this date.

Chris Muhleman, OTR, CHT
ASHT 2002 Secretary

To learn more on other injuries and conditions, link to Patient Education.