The Denver Clinic for Extremities at Risk is a unique group of medical professionals sub-specialized in management of conditions and diseases that place people at risk of losing an extremity. In existence for over 20 years, this group has established itself as the Rocky Mountain region's premier medical community to evaluate and treat persons at risk for amputation due to trauma or disease.

Our group brings together important components of patient care:

• Sub-specialty expertise including oncologic, pediatrics, orthopedics, infectious disease, microvascular plastic surgeons, and others
• The latest treatments with proven success based on continuing Denver Clinic basic clinical research
• Weekly interdisciplinary patient conference
• Active involvement in outcome studies, publications, and presentations at world-wide medical conferences
• Full-time referral coordinator to assist with new patient referrals, appointments, transportation, and lodging during the patient work-up.

Weekly Treatment Planning Conference

The cornerstone of The Denver Clinic is a weekly clinical conference. Doctors in many different specialties, as well as other skilled professionals, evaluate patient treatment plans at each conference. The clinical conference matches advanced protocols or successful new surgical techniques, to the individual patient. The treating physician will often return with follow-up information about the results, adding to the pool of knowledge.

Emergency Replant Team

The Denver Clinic for Extremities at Risk provides care for patients with traumatic amputations. Our replant surgeons are fellowship trained in microvascular surgery to re-attach amputated parts. When a patient has an injury that can be managed by our replant team, the triage coordinator will work with the referring facility to assure the patient is transferred to Presbyterian/St. Luke's Medical Center and the replant team is in place when the patient arrives. The toll free long distance number, 800-262-LIMB, is answered 24 hours per day.

Advanced Treatment and Research

The physicians of The Denver Clinic for Extremities at Risk use the most advanced treatment protocols documented in scientific literature or demonstrated by The Denver Clinic's own research. One example is Intra-arterial chemotherapy used to treat bone and soft tissue cancers. The Chemotherapy is infused directly into the tumor via a catheter that is guided through the arteries that feed the tumor. This treatment was first studied in dogs at Colorado State University. Another example is the use of modified bone transplants to correct for bone loss. In cooperation with The Limb Preservation Foundation, the Denver Clinic supports research on extremity disease at Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Ft. Collins, Colorado.

Outcome Studies, Publications and Specialty Conferences

In addition to the laboratory based research occuring at Colorado State University, The Denver Clinic's clinical research coordinator gathers and maintains patient-based outcome data. Periodically, data are published in peer-reviewed medical journals. The Denver Clinic also publishes a quarterly newsletter and distributes information regionally on Limb Preservation care. The Denver Clinic sponsors an annual medical conference on management of complex orthopedic problems. For more information about the publications or conferences please contact us.

Financial Assistance and Counseling

The full-time social worker at The Denver Clinic for Extremities at Risk assists patients by locating and maximizing every form of insurance coverage. In addition, the social worker assists visiting patients and families with counseling as necessary during the treatment process.

Consultation

Physicians will provide second opinions to physicians in outlying areas regarding treatment options for patients with an Extremity at Risk. Contact us to discuss the consultation process.