Prosthetic reconstruction for children with limb deficiencies
At the end of this presentation, participants should be able to:
- Discuss the indications for prosthetic reconstruction children with limb deficiencies.
- Understand the role of a multidisciplinary team (Orthopedic surgeon, PT, Prosthetist) in optimizing outcomes.
- Discuss the principles of prosthetic reconstruction surgery in children.
- Discuss the principles of lower and upper extremity prosthetics in children.
- Understand the role of rehabilitation to restore function
About the presenters:
Mohan V. Belthur, MD
Orthopedic Surgery & Sports Medicine
Phoenix Children’s Hospital
Mohan V. Belthur, MD, had his first exposure to orthopedics when he injured his elbow, leg and foot as a child. Later, battling a serious illness during medical school taught him even more about difficulties patients can face and the value of receiving excellent healthcare.
Those experiences inspire Dr. Belthur's compassionate and empathetic approach to patient care. As an orthopedic surgeon, he strives to improve the lives of children, adolescents and young adults with musculoskeletal problems.
"I love working with children and their families, being able to solve challenging problems and make a difference in their lives," Dr. Belthur says.
Dr. Belthur is passionate about teaching, mentoring and connecting – whether with patients and families or other health professionals. He's also involved in life-changing clinical research and global health. He works with nonprofit organizations focused on easing the burden of childhood musculoskeletal disorders in low- and middle-income countries.
Sharing Phoenix Children's passion for providing hope, healing and the best healthcare, he also appreciates being part of an organization that promotes diversity and inclusion.
When he's not working, Dr. Belthur enjoys traveling with his family and visiting national parks and cultural heritage centers worldwide. He also enjoys running, hiking, biking and yoga, and is training for his black belt in the South Korean martial art of Tang Soo Do. His interests also include reading about history, ancient Indian scriptures, leadership and well-being.
Jillian Okimoto, CPO
Certified Prosthetist Orthotist
Hanger Clinic, Phoenix
As a clinician with more than 14 years of experience in the field, Jillian specializes in lower extremity prosthetics including pediatric prosthetics with patients, microprocessor feet, microprocessor knees, elevated vacuum, postoperative, and sport-specific/running prosthetics.
Jillian is passionate about custom-fitting devices that help her pediatric patients reach their goals, from playing sports to keeping up with their friends. She is also committed to educating their parents about the complexities of prosthetic devices, and what to expect as their child adapts to them. Jillian loves the unexpected turns pediatric appointments often take & uses play to assess their movements and come up with creative solutions for each child.
Jillian loves that she gets to work with her patients and their families for many years, helping them reach their functional goals, and sometimes even pushing them to expand their goals further than they thought were possible. She joins them in celebrating milestones and accomplishments during their care journey.
Outside of work, Jillian enjoys riding motorcycles and photography. She also volunteers with Camp No Limits.
Laura Graziano
Physical Therapist
OP Physical Therapy
Phoenix Children’s Hospital
Laura Graziano is a pediatric physical therapist working in outpatient rehabilitation. She enjoys treating patients from birth to adulthood and is passionate about empowering both her patients and their families to optimize participation and function in their daily lives. She received her doctorate in Physical Therapy from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff. When she is not in the clinic, she enjoys hiking, swimming, traveling, and spending time with her friends, family, and dog Otis.