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Clinical outcomes in early rehabilitation using the Össur Power Knee: An exploratory pilot study
S Schaeffer1, K Bufe1, S Kluge2
1Department of Clinical Research, BG Klinikum Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.
Background:
Early rehabilitation after transfemoral amputation aims to restore mobility, reduce compensatory strain, and improve quality of life. Powered prosthetic knees, such as the Össur Power Knee, may facilitate more physiological gait patterns in comparison to conventional prosthetic knees; however, evidence regarding their use during the initial rehabilitation phase remains limited.
Objective:
To explore the safety and usability of the Össur Power Knee during rehabilitation following transfemoral amputation.
Methodology:
This prospective single-center exploratory study was conducted in a rehabilitation center of a public trauma hospital in Germany from October 1st 2023 until July 1st 2024 and included three adults with unilateral transfemoral amputation, who received the Össur Power Knee III (2021) as their initial prosthesis and completed standard interdisciplinary rehabilitation. Assessments were performed at baseline, 14 days, 1, 3 and 5 months. Outcomes were assessed in five domains: pain assessment, health-related quality of life, objective mobility and functional capacity, balance confidence and functional independence as well as prosthesis usability. Safety and adverse events were monitored throughout follow-up.
Results:
Over five months, all three participants demonstrated improvements in EuroQol 5-Dimension 5-Level, Locomotor Capabilities Index, and Amputee Mobility Predictor scores, while two participants experienced reduced pain. Prosthesis usability scores varied across participants. Functional performance measures remained stable or improved across all cases. Two minor falls occurred that were unrelated to the device and did not result in injury.
Conclusion:
Early rehabilitation using the Össur Power Knee was feasible. During rehabilitation, patients reported reduced pain and improvements in mobility and patient-reported outcomes. However, these outcomes cannot be solely attributed to the Össur Power Knee, as interpretation is limited by the small sample size, single-arm design, and short follow-up period.