See how innovation and teamwork at VA make Veterans’ lives better

Showcasing a combination of innovation and teamwork that makes VA such a unique place to work, advancements at the VA Portland Health Care System made this facility the second VA in the nation to perform osseointegration (OI) surgeries for above-knee amputees.

The Osseo-anchored Prostheses for Rehabilitation of Amputees (OPRA) Implant System is designed for adults who have transfemoral (above-the-knee) amputations who may also have problems with, or even an inability to use, a conventional socket prosthesis.

Wade Mitcheltree, the first Veteran to undergo OI surgery in Portland VA, continues to find more comfort and control in his ability to stand upright and walk on his own. This is all thanks to the support of his Amputation Specialty Clinic Team, an interdisciplinary group of health care professionals who build individualized health care treatment plans tailored to meet the needs of individual Veterans.

These teams are a natural outgrowth of our Patient Aligned Care Teams (PACT), which support whole health care and lifelong wellness.

Work at VA

Read more about the OPRA system, and the team who employed it, at VA Careers, where you can also learn how your own expertise can help make a difference in the lives of Veterans like Mitcheltree.