Rotationplasty
What is rotationplasty?
It’s a surgery mostly used to treat bone cancers and tumors near the knee. Since these conditions tend to affect children and teenagers more than adults and since pediatric patients typically respond better to this surgery, it’s very rare to see it performed on an adult. Even with that taken into consideration, it’s not commonly seen in children, either. I know, you’re waiting for me to tell you what it actually is. When a surgeon completes a rotationplasty, they remove the middle part of the leg (the knee and part of the leg above and below) and reattach the lower leg to the upper leg with the lower leg rotated 180°. This leaves the foot facing backwards and the heel now acts like a knee. If you’re finding this difficult to picture in your head, you’re not alone! That’s why I included a super-nifty image on this post!
There are more images on the Boston Children’s Hospital page that do a great job of illustrating the surgical procedure!
So where do physical therapists come into play here?
As you might imagine, having your foot as a knee feels strange and is probably hard to use at first. As experts in movement, PTs help people who have had a rotationplasty learn how to safely use their leg again. Physical therapists should work closely with prosthetists and orthopaedic surgeons to create and execute the best possible plan of care. Rehabilitation for rotationplasty is going to be more intensive than therapy for a lot of other conditions. Strengthening and stretching the right muscles and tendons is a must. You can also expect to work on regaining coordination, getting sized for a properly fitting prosthetic and any other needed assistive devices, and education on the healing process your body is going through. PTs will also help family members and caretakers by sharing helpful guidance on how to help their loved one at home.
PTs love to see their patients accomplishing their physical movement goals! Consistent cooperation between PTs, prosthetists, and orthopaedic surgeons makes getting there easier!
Ultimately, the goal of physical therapy is to help you do the things that fulfill you! You are in charge of what you’re reaching for. For some, this is taking their dog for a walk without pain. For others, it’s becoming a competitive basketball player. Whatever your physical goal may be, PTs are there to help you achieve it!
If you’d like to learn more about this topic, try one of these resources:
