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Early fitting of the below knee amputee.
Orthopedics
|February 1, 1985
Summary
A new adjustable below-knee prosthesis was designed to improve rehabilitation for amputees. Early results show this method encourages early ambulation, potentially increasing successful prosthetic use.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Prosthetics & Orthotics
Background:
- Below-knee amputation rehabilitation outcomes varied significantly across surgical services in 1982.
- Traditional prosthetic fitting methods were insufficient for a large proportion of patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare below-knee amputation rehabilitation across orthopedic, general, and vascular surgical services.
- To address the limitations in prosthetic fitting by designing an improved temporary prosthesis.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective comparison of patient rehabilitation data from 1982.
- Design and initial application of a temporary, adjustable below-knee prosthesis.
Main Results:
- Only 1 of 9 trauma patients on the orthopedic service did not receive a prosthesis.
- Of 53 non-trauma patients, only 3 received a temporary prosthesis, and 13 received a definitive prosthesis.
- Early results with eight patients using the new adjustable prosthesis were encouraging.
Conclusions:
- The development of a temporary, adjustable below-knee prosthesis is a viable alternative fitting method.
- This new prosthesis aims to facilitate early ambulation and improve successful prosthetic use in a broader patient population.