Josh Olson can never forget the date of October 27,
2003. The young soldier on duty in Iraq was hit by a
rocket-propelled grenade and lost his entire leg. An infantry squad
leader, Olson knew immediately that the leg was gone, but says, "I
was just happy to be alive!"
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| Stan Patterson, CP, (left) and Dennis Clark, CPO (right) accompany Josh Olson as he tries his new prosthesis. |
Olson is a hip-disarticulation amputee who has
been at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC, for about
17 months, undergoing rehabilitation and working with prosthetists.
He's an optimistic, young soldier who hopes to become the first
hip-disarticulation amputee to return to active duty.
He had already made strides despite his disability. Olson has made
the Army marksmanship team, and at press time is waiting for orders
to be called up to Fort Benning, Georgia, to train with the team.
He can then start competing in Army shooting events. Through his
involvement with the Army marksmanship team, Olson ultimately hopes
to make the US marksmanship team and compete in the 2008 Olympic
Games.
Olson received his first prosthesis in January 2004, and a desire
to stay in the Army is his driving motivation to become better at
using the prosthesis. "My big thing is that it's easier to get
along without the leg, but I have to work at making myself get
better at it to stay in the Army."
Although Olson has state-of-the-art technology, including Otto
Bocks C-Leg®, heterotopic ossification (HO), a frequent
complication of blast wounds, was making his socket uncomfortable
to wear.
To aid in his rehabilitation, Olson began working with Stan
Patterson, CP, and inventor who owns a patient care facility,
Prosthetic & Orthotics Associates, Orlando, Florida. Patterson
also is a partner in Conundrum Research Labs, Orlando.
Olson and Dennis Clark, CPO, Clark & Associates Prosthetics
& Orthotics, Waterloo, Iowa, who has been working with
lower-limb amputees at Walter Reed, flew to Orlando, and the trio
got to work.
New Design Created
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| The Olson Design incorporates an anterior/posterior swivel lanyard built into the liner. |
They worked on different designs with Craig
Mackenzie, CP, of Velocity Labs, Orlando, Florida. Mackenzie was
formerly head of research and development at TEC Interface and now
operates his own R&D facility and central fab. Patterson
explains, "The problem we faced was that there currently was no
conventional way of cushioning the HO caused by the explosive
nature of the injury while at the same time trying to eliminate as
much migration as possible, so Josh could achieve a smoother and
steadier gait. The initial design - now known as the Olson Design -
incorporates an anterior/posterior swivel lanyard built into the
liner. The individual can then step into the liner, similar to a
pair of boxer shorts, with the involved side closed off with
silicone. As a result, the prosthesis can be held on by cinching
the lanyard through the socket, creating a positive lock between
the liner and the socket."
Patterson continues, "This allows us to achieve lower socket trim
lines and a much lighter socket. The second stage of the design
will incorporate all of the above along with elevated vacuum. This
would allow a significant increase in function and a more
energy-efficient gait. Dennis actually had Josh walking
independently in the new design. This was something he was unable
to accomplish prior to coming to Orlando". Patterson adds, "We
coined the name Olson Design because of Josh's necessity, and as
they say, necessity is the mother of all inventions."
Says Olson, "I'm kind of the guinea pig to see how well I can make
it work." He has run into a few glitches along the way, but adds,
"So far I am adjusting well and learning to use the prosthesis much
better."
Olson's Future Goals
For the future, Olson wants to stay in the Army as long as he can. "I want to prove that hip disartics still have a place in the Army. We still have a lot to offer."
Olson says his positive outlook is due to his family. "I can't let my family and my fiancée down by giving up." Olson hopes to continue his active lifestyle and even start running again. "I just want to get back to living as normal a life as is humanly possible," he says. "I want to be one of those guys who proves everyone wrong."
