The importance of orthoses on activities of daily living in patients with unilateral lower limb amputations

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Onat, Sule Sahin^* | Ünsal-Delialioğlu, Sibel | Özel, Sumru

Affiliations: Ankara Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: Sule Sahin Onat, Ankara Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Training and Research Hospital, Turkocagı Sok. No:3 Sihhiye, Ankara, Turkey. Tel.: +90 312 310 3230 1341; Fax: +90 312 343 62 81; E-mail:sahinsulester@gmail.com

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The role of the selected prothesis on activities of daily living (ADL). OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of prothesis on ADL in patients with lower-limb amputations. METHODS: The data of 500 patients with unilateral lower limb amputation were recorded. The activity level was defined based on the Medicare Functional Classification Level. Old and new prescribed prosthesis were recorded. Nottingham Extended Activities of daily living activities Daily Living Scale was used to evaluate ADL. RESULTS: Amputation levels were transfemoral (TF) in 268 (53.6%), transtibial (TT) in 178 (35.6%), knee disarticulation (KD) in 54 (10.8%). In patients with TF and KD amputation active vacuum system, pin modular system, hydraulic system and mechanical modular prosthesis were replaced with the swing stance phase microprocessor-controlled prostheses. In patients with TT amputation pin modular system, hydraulic system and mechanical modular prosthesis were converted to active vacuum system prostheses. Prescribed new prosthesis has caused a statistically significant increase in all amputation levels in ADL of patients (p≤ 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We observed that there was significant improvement in ADL when conventional prostheses replaced with advanced technology prostheses in unilateral lower extremity amputation patients.

Keywords: Amputation, lower limb, daily living activities, protheses

DOI: 10.3233/BMR-160532

Journal: Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation, vol. 30, no. 4, pp. 829-833, 2017