EVENTS THAT LED TO MY ERTL AMPUTATION

    Several years ago, during a city softball tournament game, I suffered some serious fractures to my lower leg and ankle.  After a few years of surgeries and immobilization, I regained enough stability in my leg to resume most of life's activities and demands for awhile. 

    However, three years ago, severe and irreversible complications arose from those previous leg injuries.  I developed osteomyelitis in the previous fractures sites which eventually proved to be impossible to get control over.  I continued to try to salvage my leg.

    For a year before I was amputated and as I consulted with many orthopedic surgeons about my situation, it became a consensus that I would be more functional, in less pain, and less time spent in and out of doctor's offices, if I had a below knee amputation.  These surgeons told me that I had given my leg just about every chance I possibly could of healing.  They said that I certainly could keep trying surgeries, but were concerned about how many more of them my body could take.  It was their opinion that any future surgeries would not allow a functional lower leg and foot.  I had been given ample information to make a good decision,  I just needed to decide how quickly I wanted to try to move on with my life.

    As I kept hearing this recommendation from several surgeons, in tears and for the first time, I knew that it was in my best interest to amputate my limb.  I knew they were right. 

    Reality set in.  I finally realized that I had tried everthing possible.  It was difficult for me to think that I was about to undergo amputation of my leg because of complications from an injury playing softball.  So many of my surgeons would say, "This just doesn't happen."   But it did.   

    I had been through a total of ten complex surgeries and thirteen years of discomfort.  The last three years consisted of constant immobilization with a cast, most of that time requiring non weight bearing with the use of crutches, and a wheelchair.  Though difficult, I had finally come to the realization that the life I had worked so hard to try to regain, would in fact be given back to me through an amputation.

      I had been informed about the ERTLprocedure by others ERTL amputees that I had talked to, and the Ertl reconstruction web site.  I researched this procedure thoroughly.  As I did I was impressed with what I learned about it.  It all made sense to me and I had decided that I didn't want to receive an BKA without having the ERTL perfomed.   I found a surgeon in locally who was familiar with the ERTL procedure and could perform it. 

    On November 17, 2004, despite many difficult surgeries, excellent physicians, medical technology and advances, I lost my leg to an ERTL below knee amputation.  I was at the beginning of a new life with unexplored territory and continued challenges.  I immediately came to accept the outcome of this journey, as I anxiously looked forward to a new quality of life, and renewed optimism and hope for the future.  I came to realized that being happy didn't mean that everything was perfect, it just meant that I was able to see beyond the imperfections.

    I experienced some structural problems with my residual limb after being fitted with my prosthesis at 8 weeks.  After a few months of trying to use my prosthesis while experiencing discomfort, my prosthetist tried to re-work my prosthesis as much as possible without any success of improving the discomfort when weight-bearing.  It was becoming impossible to get the prosthesis to work for me.  It became the opinion of my surgeon and prosthetist that I would need a revision.

    That is when I sought the opinion of Dr. Will Ertl in Oklahoma City.  It was his opinion that I had received a modification of the Ertl procedure when I had been amputated.  Several issues were affecting my ability to utilize a prothesis and become end-bearing.  Dr. Ertl suggested to me what surgical intervention needed to be done to correct the problems I was experiencing.  He was kind, compassionate, very knowledgeable and confident.

    On May 24, 2005, I underwent the twelfth surgery with Dr. Will Ertl on my leg, to revise the BKA Ertl prodecure.  I am now bearing weight on the end of my limb, which continues to increase with time.  I am optimistic that I have the potential of reaching the goals I have set for my life at this time.

    I feel as though the Ertl procedure allows an individual to enjoy a better quality of life without the complications that a standard amputation can bring.  I would like to see the Ertl procedure become the standard form of amputation.

Please feel free to contact me at tamistanley@comcast.net 

New images provided in July 2005 (click on images to see larger version):

New images provided in Sept 2005 (click on images to see larger version):