I Decided To Amputate My Foot: Gary Yerman's Story

After a devastating football injury led to decades of chronic pain, Gary Yerman made the life-altering choice to have his lower leg amputated at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center in 2019.
Dr. Justin K. Greisberg, chief of the Foot and Ankle Service at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center, spoke to Gary about the Ertl technique, a variation on a traditional transtibial amputation - removal of the leg from the center of the shin bone down - that would help him pursue activities like jogging.
In the procedure, a surgeon connects the tissue between the fibula and tibia, creating a strong, flat, bony bridge that, when healed, can distribute the body’s weight more evenly.
“It’s designed for people who want to be athletic,” Dr. Greisberg says. “It makes the fibula more stable, and gives you a bigger platform to put your weight on.”
Since then, Gary’s been on the move with his prosthetic - hiking, running, swimming, biking, triathlons - none of it gets old. “My eyes well up after a lot of my runs,” he says. “I just can’t believe I can do this.”
Read his full story at: healthmatters.nyp.org/how-cho...