Loyola Medicine uses complex rotationplasty to preserve mobility for 3-year-old after accident

Cohen Liggett was like any other three-year-old boy. He loved to run, play and be active with his brothers. After a devastating accident with a lawn mower last summer threatened the loss of his leg, his parents worried all of that would change. Doctors at Loyola Medicine utilized a procedure often used for young patients with bone cancers called a rotationplasty, which converted his ankle to a knee joint creating a form of below knee amputation. This allows Liggett to retain more mobility and have better prosthetic options. With his new prosthetic, Liggett is back to the things he enjoyed before his accident, now with the goal of becoming a Paralympian. 

In September 2025, Liggett was transported via helicopter to Loyola Medicine where he was taken into emergency surgery. Doctors found that Liggett had an extensive injury to his medial thigh and knee where most of his distal femur and patella bone were lost along with overlying skin and muscle. Doctors determined this section of Liggett's leg would not be salvageable, but they were committed to finding the best course of action for him long term.

"He's so young," said orthopaedic surgeon Thomas Hodo, MD. "He was only three years old, so I'm trying to figure out an option for him that will allow him to be somewhat of a normal kid, to have good function, to minimize the amount of surgeries we need to have over his lifetime."

Innovative surgery at Loyola Medicine helps preserve active future for young trauma patient

After consulting with Liggett's parents over multiple days, doctors concluded that the best treatment option for Liggett was a rotationplasty. This complex procedure is a form of amputation that allows for the salvage of a knee joint. In Liggett's case, his distal femur was removed, and his tibia was rotated 180 degrees and fused with his remaining femur, allowing his ankle to be a knee joint. 

Liggett's parents were appreciative of the care and consideration given to protecting their son's future mobility. 

"Dr. Hodo was just so kind and talking it out with us for days on end until we came to this decision that we were like, this rotationplasty will give him the best option for mobility in the future," said Liggett's mom, Jacki. "He's still going to be able to do all the things that a four-year-old (at the time he was three) do."

Complex rotationplasty gives 3-year-old a path back to childhood activities

After the rotationplasty, Liggett's journey was just beginning. He spent a month in the hospital, hours of rehab, and multiple prosthetic fittings to learn to use what he fondly refers to as his "robot leg". 

Because of Liggett's age and the severity of the procedure, doctors, staff and Liggett's parents worked hard to educate and prepare him for the challenges ahead. Loyola's child life team, consisting of clinically trained professionals and experts in child development, created a “Cohen doll which also has a rotationplasty to help prepare him for how his body would look after surgery. His room was filled with guitar music played by Ligget himself, decorations, bubbles and toys all for the boy who his dad, Adam, says, "can't be kept down."

"Cohen did great, honestly, better than I would expect in a kid his age," said Dr. Hodo. "But Cohen is very resilient. He was never freaked out by the whole idea of having his 'leg on backwards', as some would say. He has a great range of motion in his ankle, which will allow him to have a great ability to use his prostheses. I would attribute that to his wonderful parents who have educated him well about his situation and also worked really hard with him."

Determination, teamwork and advanced care fuel remarkable recovery after traumatic injury

Thanks to the care of his medical team, Liggett is back to doing many of the things he enjoyed before the accident, including getting his training wheels off and attempting his version of a wheelie on his specialized bike, fit for his prosthesis.

"He is so resilient, so courageous, cheerful and just determined," said Jacki. "After watching the Paralympics this past winter, he has decided he wants to be a Paralympian one day." 

Liggett's parents are eager to see their son live his best possible life. 

Watch Liggett's story here: Strength Beyond His Years: Cohen’s Story of Resilience and Hope