Osseointegration

With osseointegration, you can experience a life-changing improvement in prosthetic comfort and performance.

At Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, we’re here to help you live your best life – with your prosthetic limb. Whether you are dealing with socket pain or have difficulty performing everyday tasks, we can help you feel better and improve your mobility through our Osseointegration Program.

Osseointegration is a surgical process that involves the direct anchoring of a metal implant to the bone, which then grows around the implant providing a secure attachment point for prosthetic devices.

As one of only a handful of programs in the U.S. offering osseointegration, we’re leading experts who can help you get back to the activities you love.

Is osseointegration right for you?

If you have an amputation above the elbow or knee and have difficulty wearing a prosthesis, osseointegration may be the right choice for you.

You’re a good candidate for osseointegration if:

You experience problems with your socket (perspiration, skin problems, pain)
You have pain at the interface (connection) between your prosthesis and limb despite adjustments and modifications
Your walking distance is limited because of your socket
You can’t sit comfortably with your socket
You often lose your prosthesis during daily activities
You have back pain because you limp while you walk or find it hard to stand or sit straight

Patient Care - What to Expect

Members of our team, including an orthopaedic surgeon, plastic surgeon, physical therapist and prosthetist, will determine if you’re a good candidate for osseointegration. We make this decision based on a clinical examination, a radiographic evaluation and your amputation status. The radiographic evaluation includes X-rays (used to assess bone quality and identify any abnormalities) and CT scans (used to verify bone length and determine fixture length).

At your first appointment, you can expect:

To review your medical history
To review and discuss your prosthetic history use, activities and current challenges
To review your current prosthetic device, including the socket, suspension system and various attachment mechanisms
A socket evaluation
To discuss the osseointegration surgical process, including plastic surgery
To discuss the role of your osseointegration prosthetist

Through every step of the process, your care team will be there to guide you. You’ll also have the opportunity to connect with former patients through our osseointegration support group.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the osseointegration process work?

During the first stage of surgery, the metal implant is placed into the bone and the wound is closed over the implant. Over time (usually 2 to 4 months) the bone heals around the metal implant, forming a secure connection within the bone.

During the second stage, 10 to 12 weeks after the first, a small surgical opening is made so the implant extends beyond the skin’s surface, allowing a prosthetic device to attach to it.

After both stages, we’ll monitor you while you heal. It’s important to know that the prosthetic limb can be changed from time to time. So if it gets damaged or an infection develops around the implant, the device can be adjusted.

What are the benefits of osseointegration?

No matter how innovative your prosthesis is, if there are fitting problems between your prosthetic device and limb, you’re unable to function at your highest level. Osseointegration bypasses that issue by creating a direct connection between the prosthesis and the bone.

The benefits of that connection include:

Improved mobility, functionality and performance
Improved gate (the way you walk)
Enhanced perception and sensation since you’re able to feel the bone (such as feeling the ground as you walk)
Increased prosthesis wear time due to improved comfort
Mental health benefits from increased activity and function

In short, osseointegration can be a transformative solution that allows for a much better quality of life.

What are the risks of osseointegration?

There’s a risk of skin infection around the incision area. If that does occur, it’s treated with antibiotics and more frequent cleanings. Sometimes the infection spreads to deeper layers of the skin and to the muscles, which can also be treated with antibiotics or possibly require surgery to help curb the infection.

Other risks involving the metal implant or prosthetic limb include pain or fractures to the bone, which are quite rare. There are several treatment options for those issues should they arise, and your care team will guide you through the process.

What’s the recovery time for osseointegration? And what does the recovery process look like?

The recovery time for osseointegration can vary depending on your overall health and the location of the implant, but typically the recovery process takes 3 to 6 months.

During your recovery, you’ll work with a physical therapist and receive nutritional guidance to help you recover quickly, safely and effectively.

What is the OPRA™ Implant System?

The OPRA Implant System is a type of bone-anchored prostheses system specially designed for osteointegration. Currently it’s the only Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved implant in the U.S. for osseointegration, and it’s the only one we use.

Do you offer osseointegration to children?

Because bones in children are still in the growing stage, we typically do not treat patients younger than 18 years old. If, however, we determine that bone growth is complete, we may consider osseointegration.

Providers

Locations

Orthopaedics - Medical Plaza Miller

Address

131 Miller St.

Winston-Salem, NC 27103

Get Directions

Hours of Operation

Mon - Fri: 8 am - 5 pm

Appointments

336-716-8200
336-716-9841 (FAX)

Orthopaedics - Medical Plaza Miller, 131 Miller St. - Google Maps

Referring Physicians

At Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist we understand the importance of referrals. Our Physician Liaisons partner with referring physicians in our community and beyond to provide information on our physicians and clinical services. Full list of new physicians.

Contact the Physician Liaisons

Insurance

Insurance Accepted

This chart is a list of the most common health insurance plans we accept. This list is subject to change. Please check your individual plan to confirm their participation and the coverage allowed.

Due to the different physician groups and hospitals within the Wake Forest Baptist system, physician services and hospital services are billed separately. Please remember that health insurance coverage varies, so some services may not be covered.

If you don’t see your plan or you have questions, please call our Customer Service Center at 877-938-7497. We will do our best to work with you and your plan.

Key

WFUHS - Wake Forest University Health Sciences (professional services)
NCBH - North Carolina Baptist Hospital
LMC - Lexington Medical Center
CHC - Cornerstone Healthcare
Wilkes - Wilkes Regional Medical Center
HPR- High Point Regional
N/A - Not applicable to services provided at facility and/or CHC
NC -Not Contracted, very low to no volume for facility and/or CHC

Wake Forest Baptist Health Managed Care/MA Contracts - January2022

AETNA CONNECTED ACA/Exchange: Accepted at all locations

AETNA (PPO & HMO): Accepted at all locations

AETNA MEDICARE: Accepted at all locations

AETNA WHOLE HEALTH: Accepted at all locations

ALIGNMENT HEALTHCARE MEDICARE ADVANTAGE: Accepted at WFUHS, NCBH, Davie, LMC, CHC and Wilkes (not applicable to services provided at High Point)

AMBETTER OF NC: Accepted at all locations

AMERIHEALTH CARITAS NEXT ACA/Exchange: Accepted at all locations

APEX MEDICARE ADVANTAGE: Accepted at all locations

BCBSNC (PPO & HMO): Accepted at all locations

BCBS HIGH PERFORMANCE (NATIONAL NETWORK): Accepted at all locations

BLUE LOCAL WITH ATRIUM HEALTH: Accepted at all locations

BLUE MEDICARE: Accepted at all locations

BLUE VALUE: Accepted at all locations

CAROLINA BEHAVIORAL HEALTH: Accepted at WFUHS, NCBH and CHC (not applicable to services provided at Davie, LMC, Wilkes and High Point)

CIGNA: Accepted at all locations

CIGNA BEHAVIORAL HEALTH: Accepted at NCBH and High Point (not applicable to services provided at Davie, LMC, CHC and Wilkes)

CIGNA HEALTHSPRING MEDICARE ADVANTAGE: Accepted at WFUHS, NCBH, Davie, LMC, CHC and High Point (not applicable to services provided at Wilkes)

CIGNA LIFESOURCE (TRANSPLANTS): Accepted at WFUHS and NCBH (not applicable to services provided at Davie, LMC, CHC, Wilkes and High Point)

COVENTRY/WELLPATH: Accepted at all locations

CRESCENT PPO (ASHEVILLE): Accepted at WFUHS and NCBH (not contracted, very low to no volume for Davie, LMC, CHC, Wilkes and High Point)

DEVOTED HEALTH: Accepted at all locations

DIRECT NET: Accepted at WFUHS, NCBH, Davie, LMC, Wilkes and High Point (not contracted, very low to no volume for CHC)

FIRST HEALTH (COVENTRY): Accepted at all locations

FIRSTCAROLINACARE (PINEHURST, NC): Accepted at NCBH (not contracted, very low to no volume for WFUHS, Davie, LMC, CHC, Wilkes and High Point)

GATEWAY HEALTH ALLIANCE (VIRGINIA): Accepted at WFUHS and NCBH (not contracted, very low to no volume for Davie, LMC, CHC, Wilkes and High Point)

GOLDEN RULE INS (UNITED): Accepted at all locations

HEALTHGRAM (formerly PRIMARY PHYSICIAN CARE): Accepted at WFUHS, NCBH and LMC (not contracted, very low to no volume for Davie, CHC, Wilkes and High Point)

HEALTHTEAM ADVANTAGE: Accepted at all locations

HUMANA CHOICECARE: Accepted at all locations

HUMANA MEDICARE ADVANTAGE: Accepted at all locations

LIBERTY ADVANTAGE (MEDICARE ADVANTAGE): Accepted at WFUHS and NCBH (not applicable to services provided at Davie, LMC, CHC, Wilkes and High Point)

MAGELLAN (BEHAVIORAL HEALTH): Accepted at WFUHS, NCBH and CHC (not applicable to services provided at Davie, LMC, Wilkes and High Point)

MEDCOST: Accepted at all locations

MEDCOST ULTRA: Accepted at WFUHS, NCBH, Davie, LMC, Wilkes and High Point (not applicable at CHC)

OPTUMHEALTH (TRANSPLANTS - APPLICABLE TO NCBH/WFUHS ONLY): Accepted at WFUHS and NCBH (not applicable to services provided at Davie, LMC, CHC, Wilkes and High Point)

PREFERRED CARE OF VA INC: Accepted at WFUHS and NCBH (not contracted, very low to no volume for Davie, LMC, CHC, Wilkes and High Point)

SOUTHERN HEALTH SVCS (COVENTRY-PPO ONLY): Accepted at WFUHS, NCBH, Davie and CHC (not contracted, very low to no volume for LMC, Wilkes and High Point)

TWIN COUNTY (VIRGINIA): Accepted at WFUHS and NCBH (not contracted, very low to no volume for Davie, LMC, CHC, Wilkes and High Point)

UNITED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH: Accepted at WFUHS, NCBH, CHC and High Point (not applicable to services provided at Davie, LMC and Wilkes)

UNITED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH INTENSIVE OUTPATIENT PROGRAM (WFUHS ONLY): Accepted at WFUHS (not applicable for services provided at NCBH, Davie, LMC, CHC, Wilkes and High Point)

UNITED HEALTHCARE: Accepted at all locations

UNITED HEALTHCARE ESSENTIALS ACA/EXCHANGE: Accepted at all locations

UNITED HEALTHCARE MEDICARE: Accepted at all locations

VA CCN: Accepted at all locations

WELLCARE: Accepted at all locations

WELLPATH (COVENTRY): Accepted at all locations

Key

WFUHS - Wake Forest University Health Sciences (professional services)
NCBH - North Carolina Baptist Hospital
LMC - Lexington Medical Center
CHC - Cornerstone Healthcare
Wilkes - Wilkes Regional Medical Center
HPR- High Point Regional
N/A - Not applicable to services provided at facility and/or CHC
NC - Not Contracted, very low to no volume for facility and/or CHC

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