ILOTA Live Virtual Event: "Winning the Arms Race: Optimizing Upper Extremity Amputations & Advancements in Prosthetic Technology"

6:30 pm - 8:00 pm

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Join us for an engaging and educational presentation by Orthopaedic Hand and Upper Extremity Surgeon William Neal, MD of Endeavor Health Orthopaedic & Spine Institute on “Winning the Arms Race: Optimizing Upper Extremity Amputations & Advancements in Prosthetic Technology.” Since the beginning of medical documentation, amputation procedures, limb loss, and myriad creative solutions have been reported. With the coalescence of multiple World Wars resulting in an ever-increasing number of individuals with limb loss and advancing medical technology, a need to innovate in this field always has been present. The complexity of the hand and upper extremity in self-care, communication, vocation, and exercise results in more demands for prostheses to mimic or replace these functions – unlike the lower extremity, which is focused mostly on weight bearing and ambulation.

Pushing past the simpler passive or body-powered prostheses, technological advances now include externally powered and hybrid devices revolutionizing the way these devices are implemented in everyday life. Still, upper and lower extremity amputees alike still battle common challenges of pain, phantom limb sensation, and lack of prosthetic control and sensation. Targeted muscle reinnervation and regenerative peripheral nerve interface offer new surgical solutions to some of these challenges and are proving invaluable. As technology and surgical options continue to advance at an ever-rapid pace, a more thoughtful and individualized approach to the care of upper extremity limb loss is available.

This presentation will review the history and evolution of upper extremity prostheses and discuss considerations in making optimal surgical and prosthetic decisions for upper extremity amputees.

1. Recognize the history of prosthetic technology
2. Describe the available prosthetics
3. Evaluate current problems and solutions

William Neal, MD

William Neal, MD is an orthopaedic surgeon at Endeavor Health Orthopaedic & Spine Institute, specializing in hand, upper extremity and microvascular surgery, including both elective and trauma cases. He also manages general orthopaedic trauma throughout the musculoskeletal system.

Dr. Neal earned his medical school degree from University of Illinois-Chicago College of Medicine, and his residency training for orthopaedic surgery was done at NYU Langone Orthopedic Hospital. He completed his fellowship in hand surgery at University of Utah in Salt Lake City.

Dr. Neal is passionate about helping patients regain function and quality of life through advanced surgical and nonsurgical care. He currently sees patients at Endeavor Health’s Kildeer and Arlington Heights locations.

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(Zoom meeting link will be emailed to all registrants prior to the meeting.)

If you require any reasonable accommodation to participate in this event, please contact us before the event.

Register here!