Ray Mann

Ertl Reconstruction:

Thirty-Five Years of Proof

That It Makes a Difference

In 1968, I was a 22 year old Army Lieutenant leading an Infantry company in combat in Vietnam. On December 6th I stepped on a ”booby-trap“ (now known in Iraq and Afghanistan as an ”improvised explosive device“ or IED). I suffered a traumatic amputation of my left leg just above the ankle. After air evacuation to a field MASH, I underwent the amputation of my lower leg at the mid-calf level. Interestingly, I spoke with the orthopedic surgeon that performed the procedure. He mentioned that he had chosen the mid-calf level as a matter of common military medical practice in Vietnam.

I was further med evaced to Valley Forge Army Hospital, where I was a patient between January and August 1969. I went through the standard shrinking/fitting/walking process associated with the final fitting of a PTB prosthesis. I requested to remain on active duty as an Infantry Captain. My request was approved and in late August 1969, I returned to active duty as a Company Commander at Ft. Bragg, N.C.

In May 1970, I returned to Valley Forge Hospital for a review of my progress. I consulted with Dr. Phillip Defer, Chief of Orthopedics and Dr. Alcid LaNoue, Chief Orthopedic Surgeon (later to become Surgeon General of the Army). They informed me that a new procedure called an ”ertl“ was being tested at Valley Forge, and I was asked if I wanted to volunteer for what they generally referred to as a ”bone fusion“ of the tibia and fibula.

My ertl reconstruction was performed by Dr.’s Defer, LaNoue and others at Valley Forge in June 1970. The successful operation was filmed and documented. The prescribed recovery schedule called for me to remain in bed for 10 weeks, to prevent an accidental jarring or dislodging of the bone implant (taken from my left pelvis). After seven weeks I had recovered sufficiently to return to Ft. Bragg to process my relocation to Valley Forge hospital for an expected six-month rehabilitation.

Recovery went better than expected. Within three months, I received a new PTB prosthesis and was released back to active duty. I remained on active duty for five more years, during which time I performed all of the customary duties of an Infantry Officer, including commanding an Infantry rifle company in Alaska. I participated in 25-mile road marches, trained in skiing, snowshoeing, rock climbing, glacier climbing, and all aspects of arctic operations. After 10 years of military service I chose to retire in 1976 and remain in Anchorage, Alaska, with my wife Kathryn and our two children.

After completing a Masters Degree and beginning a new career, I began running for exercise. I was still using a standard PTB prosthesis with a ”satch foot“ and 3 to 6 plys of wool stump socks, not exactly what we are used to today. However, I began to run in competitive 5 and 10 kilometer races, and soon ran my first marathon in about five and a half hours. By the late 1970’s, my wife and I trained nearly every day and ran 15 to 20 competitive races per year, including marathons, half-marathons, and 5 and 10 kilometers. Now, after 30 years, and continued running, skiing and biking, it seems clear to me that ertl reconstruction has made a big difference. Here are some of the facts:

over 15,000 miles running as an amputee
5 marathons (including the Marine Corps) with a personal best time of 4 hours, 44 minutes
More than a dozen half marathons with a personal best time of 1 hour, 50 minutes
At least 100 medium distance races, with a 10K personal best time of 45 minutes
Participated in the development and testing of the ”Seattle Foot“ with Dr. Ernest Burgess and his team
Received one of the first ”Flexfoot“ prostheses ever marketed—which I wear in various versions today
Proficient in both cross country skiing and downhill skiing (using two skis for both)
Worked with numerous amputee groups, including Achilles Track Club, Access Alaska, Vet Centers, and Orthopedics Overseas
Returned to Vietnam in 1993 (with Orthopedics Overseas) to work with amputee and spinal injury programs

Kathryn and I retired to Hawaii/Alaska three years ago, and we continue our running and racing. I hope to achieve 20,000 miles of running by the end of the decade—we’ll see. We have also begun to put in some serious miles on mountain bikes.

As mentioned above, I have always believed that the Ertl has made all the difference and I would recommend it for BK amps that have the option. I also strongly believe that the Ertl should be the standard reconstruction procedure for all of the uniformed services. It seems odd, but in 35 years of success with the Ertl, I have never talked to anyone else who has had the procedure. Now, I feel like the ”old timer.“ I look forward to talking with others involved with the Ertl procedure, and to sharing my experiences with this ”life changing“ operation.

Raymond R. Mann

rrmann1946@msn.com