CASE REPORT Comprehensive Treatment Strategy for Chronic Low Back Pain in a Patient with Bilateral Transfemoral Amputations Integrating Changes in Prosthetic Socket Design Brittney Mazzone, PT, DPT, Adam Yoder, MS, Brian Zalewski, CPO, Marilynn Wyatt, PT, Robert Sheu, MD ABSTRACT Introduction: Wounded service members with amputations undergo a complex rehabilitation regimen that can often become complicated by skin breakdown, heterotopic ossification (HO), and pain of the residual limb, contralateral limb, or low back. These complications can impact prosthetic socket fit, decreasing one's functional independence, and potentially negatively im- pact quality of life. The purpose of this report is to present a case involving the treatment of HO along with prosthetic socket modifications, with the intention to address low back pain (LBP), in a patient with bilateral transfemoral amputations. Materials and Methods: The patient experienced traumatic bilateral amputations as a result of an improvised explosive device blast. He was initially fit with ischial containment sockets to provide stability and enhance early mobility. He became a commu- nity ambulator but was experiencing LBP and issues with HO. After extensive HO resection, a multidisciplinary discussion took place to determine the best way to diminish LBP by improving spinopelvic alignment while restoring function. It was decided to refit the patient with subischial containment sockets. Subjective questionnaires and three-dimensional gait analysis were used to quantify results. Results: After HO resection and prosthetic socket modifications, the patient's complaints of LBP decreased, along with subjec- tive improvements in the Oswestry Disability Index and Short Musculoskeletal Functional Assessment. During upright standing, anterior pelvic tilt decreased from 27.6° to 18.1°. During walking, excursion of the trunk relative to the pelvis decreased in all planes after changing prosthetic socket design to subischial and completing 6 months of rehabilitation: from 24.0° to 17.6° in the frontal plane, 12.4° to 7.8° in the sagittal plane, and 23.1° to 19.1° in the transverse plane. Conclusions: A multidisciplinary team approach to the care of patients with bilateral transfemoral amputations can help to im- prove functional outcomes. For this patient with nonradicular, mechanical LBP, a subischial prosthetic socket design that min- imized intrusion on the pelvis had a significant influence on static and dynamic sagittal spinopelvic alignment and overall outcomes. In the end, contributions by orthopedic and plastic surgeons, pain management strategies by a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician, rehabilitation by a physical therapist, and prosthetic modifications all played a role in reduction of this patient's LBP. Among the numerous interventions provided to this patient, including surgical revisions, prosthetic socket design, prosthetic alignment, and physical therapy, it is hypothesized that the change in prosthetic socket design from ischial containment to subischial had a significant, long-lasting impact on LBP and function. (J Prosthet Orthot. 2017;29:190–197) KEY INDEXING TERMS: amputation, subischial containment, gait, kinematics, prosthetics, multidisciplinary BRITTNEY MAZZONE, PT, DPT, is affiliated with the Naval Medical Center San Diego, San Diego, California, and BADER Consortium, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware. ADAM YODER, MS, is affiliated with the Naval Medical Center San Diego, San Diego, California, and the DoD-VA Extremity Trauma and Amputation Center of Excellence, San Diego, California. BRIAN ZALEWSKI, CPO, is affiliated with the Naval Medical Center San Diego, San Diego, California. MARILYNN WYATT, PT, is affiliated with the Naval Medical Center San Diego, San Diego, California. ROBERT SHEU, MD, is affiliated with the Naval Medical Center San Diego, San Diego, California. Disclosure: The authors declare no conflict of interest. Funding: This work was supported (in part) with resources provided by the BADER Consortium via Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) award W81XWH-11-2-0222 and by the Extremity Trauma and Amputation Center of Excellence. The information in this article was collected in the Comprehensive, Combat and Complex Casualty Care Gait Analysis Laboratory at Naval Medical Center San Diego. The views expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Navy, Department of Defense, or the United States Government. Written consent was obtained by the patient for use of images in this case report. Copy of the written consent was provided to the editor- in-chief of this journal. Copyright © 2017 American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists. Correspondence to: Brittney Mazzone, PT, DPT, 34800 Bob Wilson Dr, San Diego, CA, 92134; email: brittney.n.mazzone.civ@mail.mil 190 Volume 29 • Number 4 • 2017 Copyright © 2017 by the American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.