Comments on orthopaedic research in amputation surgery, prosthetics and orthotics by N. C. McCollough.

Direct skeletal attachment So much could be done from a direct reconstruction using biologically acceptable processes that direct at tachment across the skin barrier can wait. For example, something could be done again with bone bridging. We know a good deal more now than we did when Inman and Loon carried out their trials of that technique. Also, something should be done wi th respect to exploiting the body's capacity to develop callus. I would like to see displacements of selected segments from one site to another so that what is of value (say for weight bearing) could be salvaged from one level to be used at another . Fur thermore , should implantation be of value, I would like to see such implants within the body (similar to Swanson plugs) which would improve interfacing the prosthesis wi th the res iduum for end bearing. I visualize a surface of similar breadth to the femoral condyles ( t r immed?) which would provide the area necessary, and skin conditioned by call using to transmit the required forces.