[Isometric hip muscle strength in posttraumatic below-knee amputees]

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Biomechanics

Context:

• Traumatic lower limb amputations, often from war injuries, disproportionately affect a younger, active population.
• Chronic conditions like occlusive artery disease and diabetes also lead to amputations, necessitating effective rehabilitation strategies.
• Below-knee amputations present unique challenges for maintaining functional mobility and muscle performance.

Purpose:

• To assess the impact of below-knee amputation on hip isometric muscle strength.
• To evaluate the efficacy of rehabilitation programs, including prosthetics, in improving hip muscle strength in war-wounded amputees.
• To compare muscle strength between amputated and non-amputated limbs before and after rehabilitation.

Summary:

• Forty below-knee amputees (mean age 35.6 years) underwent a rehabilitation program with prosthetics.
• Isometric hip muscle strength (flexors, extensors, abductors, adductors) was measured using a dynamometer at admission, control, and discharge.
• Significant strength deficits were observed in the amputated limb compared to the non-amputated limb, particularly for abductors and extensors.

Impact:

• Rehabilitation with prosthetics led to significant improvements in hip muscle strength for all muscle groups in both limbs.
• Despite improvements, the hip abductor muscles on the amputated side remained weaker post-rehabilitation compared to the non-amputated side.
• These findings underscore the importance of targeted rehabilitation for optimizing functional recovery and social reintegration in young amputees.