Tailored Physiotherapy Combined With Exercises for Enhanced Recovery Post-Below-Knee Amputation in a Diabetic Patient...

This case report summarizes the physiotherapy rehabilitation process for a 59-year-old male patient who had undergone a below-knee amputation due to complications from diabetes mellitus, leading to peripheral artery disease (PAD). In this patient population, early rehabilitation is crucial to achieving maximal outcomes. In the following case report, physiotherapy was started on the second postoperative day following the completion of the below-knee amputation (BKA). A rehabilitation program was designed with consideration of specific challenges presented by his comorbid condition, which emphasized wound care, edema management, and pain relief, followed by early mobilization. His pre-prosthetic training included strengthening and range of motion exercises, exercise training, and techniques to improve posture by using exercises to reduce sensitivity in the residual limb. The phantom pain was well managed, and the patient recovered and experienced effective training in terms of prosthetic fitting. This serves as a testament to the importance of physiotherapy with early and tailored intervention for patients with diabetes and PAD following BKA, which has shown to be efficient in improvising functional and quality of life outcomes through a comprehensive rehabilitation program.