The endo-exo prosthesis treatment concept

Osseointegrated, percutaneous implants as the force bearer for exoprosthetics after limb amputation have been used in individual cases for clinical rehabilitation of amputees during the past years. Most experience in this field in Germany has been accumulated at the Sana Klinik in Lubeck with the so-called endo-exo prosthesis (EEP) system. The two-step implantation procedure can now be considered as reliable. Following a well-documented learning curve initial soft tissue problems concerning the cutaneous stoma can now be regarded as exceptions. The retrospective examination of the results concerning by now more than 100 patients provided with an endo-exo femoral prosthesis (EEFP) showed a very satisfying outcome concerning objective as well as subjective values, such as duration of daily use and wearing comfort of the exoprosthesis. Regaining the ability of osseoperception due to the intraosseous fixation is described by the patients as a great advantage. The step from a socket prosthesis to an EEP is felt to be a big increase in quality of life by nearly all patients included into the follow-up. Nearly all of the patients questioned would choose an endo-exo prosthesis again. Meanwhile, the success of the EEP resulted in the broadening of indications from above-knee amputations to transtibial as well as transhumeral amputations. The results are likewise encouraging. The use of EEP for the upper limbs leads to substantial improvement in the range of motion of the shoulder joint with the intramedullary anchored percutaneous implant. Furthermore, new pathbreaking possibilities in the fixation of myoelectrically controlled arm prostheses may arise from the EEP technique.