[Results of rehabilitation after double-sided prosthetic provision of lower limbs]

FORMULATION OF THE QUESTION: As a problem stood the question what effect the progress in orthopedic technology during the last years had on the rehabilitation results of the persons affected and how etiology and distribution of age and sex have changed.

We post-examined 50 patients during home visits who had had double-sided amputations of lower limbs and were provided from 1985 to 1993 were examined at home.

Etiologically it concerns 25 patients with chronic arterial circulatory disturbances, 10 with trauma, 7 with congenital damages and 8 with consequences of other amputation causes. The rehabilitation results are to be evaluated with good. It could be proved that also elder double-sided amputees can be prosthetically rehabilitated if at least one knee joint could be maintained. The physiotherapeutic post-care was recognized as the weak point of rehabilitation, it has to be improved especially for the elder persons affected.

The elder double-sided amputee can be enabled to a safe walk on prostheses only by optimum rehabilitation management with quick prosthetic provision and early starting intensive physiotherapeutic post-care which should go on for a much longer time than the stay in hospital.