Rehabilitation of burned patients with bilateral above-knee amputations

Bilateral above the knee amputations occur rarely in the seriously burned population. In a 6-month interval, two patients were treated in our Burn Center whose trauma necessitated bilateral above-knee amputations. This led us to review our experience with such cases. A review of 5018 patients treated over a 28-year period identified six patients over a 20-year period who had bilateral above-knee amputations, four of whom survived. These patients were found to have large and deep burns, concomitant injuries and a number of complications. Recovery was time consuming and costly. Physical therapists were challenged to create adaptations of traditional methods to meet the rehabilitation needs of these patients. The patients who survived remain wheelchair bound and unemployed, but are socially active, appear relatively well adjusted and report themselves satisfied with their lives. During a period of time when technological advances in medicine are ensuring survival of victims of massive trauma, questions are raised concerning the advisability of resuscitation. Knowledge gained in the treatment of these patients who are both burned and have had bilateral above-knee amputations can be reassuring to care providers with limited experience with such massive injury.