Skip to main content

Military Health System

Test of Sitewide Banner

This is a test of the sitewide banner capability. In the case of an emergency, site visitors would be able to visit the news page for addition information.

Extremity Trauma and Amputation Center of Excellence

The EACE leads the advancement of extremity trauma related discovery and clinical practice to optimize outcomes of service members, veterans, and beneficiaries while meeting the needs of the Combatant Commands and the Military Health System. The EACE is committed to ensuring a better future for those with extremity trauma. Established by the 2009 National Defense Authorization Act, the EACE is established jointly between the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The EACE was originally established to operate with the U.S. Army as its lead component. In October 2022 the EACE aligned to the Defense Health Agency in the Research & Engineering Directorate with the other Congressionally established Centers of Excellence.

Research and SurveillanceClinical AffairsGlobal Health EngagementClinical Informatics Knowledge Management Knowledge Translation


EACE Data Request Form


Our Mission

Our Vision

Our History

Our Responsibilities

Legislation and Authority

The EACE was established through Public Law and developed as a Joint effort between the Department of Defense (DoD) and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

  • Public Law 110-417: Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009
  • Deputy Secretary of Defense Memorandum: Delegated authority to the Under Secretary of Defense (Personnel and Readiness) to establish the EACE
  • Under Secretary of Defense (Personnel and Readiness) Memorandum: Directs the Department of the Army as the Lead Component for the operation of the EACE
  • Under Secretary for Health, Veterans Health Administration and Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs): Co-Signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish the Traumatic Extremity Injuries and Amputations Center of Excellence
  • Senior Military Medical Advisory Committee (SMMAC): Designated the Army and Army Medical Department (AMEDD) as the DoD lead component for the EACE
  • DoD-VA Extremity Trauma and Amputation Center Concept of Operations: Approved in January 2012 by the Military Health System (MHS) Centers of Excellence Oversight Board

You also may be interested in...

Advances in Prostheses Focus of Medical Museum’s Science Cafe

Article Around MHS
5/10/2023
Jamie Boehm, a certified orthotist prosthetist at Walter Reed, shows a current-day prosthetic during the Science Café's program focused on the Department of Defense (DOD) Limb Trauma Care at the National Museum of Health and Medicine. (Photo: Bernard Little)

Staff from Walter Reed who care for patients with polytrauma injuries and limb loss participated in the Science Café hosted by the National Museum of Health and Medicine in Silver Spring, Maryland on April 27.

Medical Museum Science Café: DOD Multi-Disciplinary Rehabilitation for Limb Trauma Event Flyer

Publication
4/12/2023

2023 presentation on emerging trends and technology in caring for the limb trauma patient, focusing on the severely to critically injured limb hosted by the Extremity Trauma and Amputation Center of Excellence.

Extremity Trauma and Amputation Center of Excellence Joins DHA

Article
10/27/2022
A man walks toward a helicopter.

DHA’s newest center of excellence supports the advancement in research and health care delivery for patients with extremity trauma and amputations.

Limb Loss: DHA's Three Advanced Rehab Centers Provide Holistic Care

Article
5/4/2022
U.S. Marine LCpl. Annika Hutsler works with James Malinak, a prosthetician at Naval Medical Center San Diego’s Comprehensive Combat and Complex Casualty Care clinic to adjust her prosthetic leg. C5 serves to deliver multidisciplinary, quality health services in an outpatient rehabilitation facility for wounded, ill, and injured service members. (Photo: U.S. Navy Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jake Greenberg)

For amputees, three Advanced Rehabilitation Centers provide holistic ranges of care to fully restore human function and enhance the quality of life of service members and veterans with extremity trauma and amputation.

Since Gulf War, Advanced Prosthetic Technology Saves Lives, Careers

Article
8/9/2021
Soldier walking with prosthetic leg

Prosthetics for lost limbs have evolved greatly since the first Gulf War, and are changing the outlook and career prospects for many service members.

Orthotics and Prosthetics Outcomes Research

Report
2/9/2021

S. 3159, SAC Report for FY 2019, 115-290, Pg. 210-211

The Next Step: The Rehabilitation Journey After Lower Limb Amputation

Publication
11/8/2018

This handbook will help to guide military members and their families through an amputation, recovery, and rehabilitation.

Within Reach: The Rehabilitation Journey After Upper Limb Amputation

Publication
1/3/2018

This guide was written specifically for Veterans and active duty military personnel receiving care through the Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense Healthcare Systems, but the information gathered includes experiences of civilian amputees as well. The hope is that this content can benefit anyone living with upper limb amputation as well as caregivers and clinical providers.

Amputation Care Equipment Requirements

Fact Sheet
9/8/2017

This fact sheet describes equipment needs for amputees based on level and number of amputations.

Molding a future

Video
8/14/2017
Molding a future

See the process of how prostheses are made at Walter Reed National Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.

Osseointegration

Fact Sheet
4/25/2017

This fact sheet provides information on osseointegration (OI) and the use of this procedure for the direct skeletal attachment of prosthetic limbs in Military Health System (MHS) beneficiaries with amputations.

Medal of Honor Recipient Speaks to Soldiers

Photo
11/8/2016
Medal of Honor recipient Army Sgt. 1st Class Leroy A. Petry talks to soldiers at Fort Sill, Okla, Jan. 12, 2012. Petry lost his right hand throwing a live grenade away from himself and two other Army Rangers during combat in Afghanistan's Paktia province, May 26, 2008. DoD photo by Marie Berberea, Fort Sill

Medal of Honor recipient Army Sgt. 1st Class Leroy A. Petry talks to soldiers at Fort Sill, Okla, Jan. 12, 2012. Petry lost his right hand throwing a live grenade away from himself and two other Army Rangers during combat in Afghanistan's Paktia province, May 26, 2008. (DoD Photo by Marie Berberea, Fort Sill)

Lance Corporal Adrian Simone

Photo
11/8/2016
Lance Cpl. Adrian Simone, an infantryman with 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, from Montville, N.J., does pull-ups at Camp Lejeune, N.C., May, 08, 2012. Simone lost both of his legs to an improvised explosive device in August, 2011 in Helmand province, Afghanistan. DoD photo by Cpl. Jeff Drew

Lance Cpl. Adrian Simone, an infantryman with 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, from Montville, N.J., does pull-ups at Camp Lejeune, N.C., May, 08, 2012. Simone lost both of his legs to an improvised explosive device in August, 2011 in Helmand province, Afghanistan. (DoD Photo by CPL. Jeff Drew)

CAT K - Beyond

Video
5/16/2015
CAT K - Beyond

Soldiers going beyond their amputations to live a full life.

Advancement and Sustainment of Amputee Care

Presentation
8/11/2014

Briefing to the Defense Health Board at August 11, 2014 meeting on Advancement and Sustainment of Amputee Care.

Page 1 of 2 , showing items 1 - 15
First < 1 2 > Last 
Last Updated: May 25, 2023
Follow us on Instagram Follow us on LinkedIn Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Follow us on YouTube Sign up on GovDelivery