Rickard Brånemark MD MSc PhD
Centre of Orthopaedic Osseointegration
Department of Orthopaedics
Sahlgren University Hospital
Gothenburg, Sweden
Directly bone-anchored prostheses, according to the osseointegration concept, were originally developed by Professor P-I Brånemark in Gothenburg. Osseointegration was initially used to treat edentulism. Preliminary results indicate that osseointegration can be used successfully in orthopaedic applications.
In a multidisciplinary approach osseointegration has been used for direct skeletal anchorage of amputation prostheses on a limited number of patients since 1990. The rehabilitation team consists of orthopaedic surgeons, physiotherapists and orthopaedic technicians. The results of the first transfemoral amputees treated will be presented, as well as considerations on patient selection, surgical technique and fitting of the prosthesis.