Prosthetic rehabilitation of persons with lower limb amputations due to tumour

Abstract

The retrospective study was to analyse some characteristics of patients with lower limb amputations due to tumour, as well as the prosthetic rehabilitation. From 2000 to 2004, we observed 46 patients (25 men and 21 women) who were admitted prosthetic rehabilitation after a lower limb amputation due to tumours. We examined their medical documentation and recorded their general clinical status paying a special attention to the local status of the stump. The average age of patients was 51 +/- 17.11 years. Osteosarcoma was the most frequent cause in 26%. The trans-femoral amputation was in 50% and the knee disarticulation was in 8.7%. The average duration of prosthetic rehabilitation was 35 +/- 7.94 days. The average daily use of the prosthesis was 5.5 h. At the time of admission for rehabilitation, 10.9% of patients were using wheelchairs, 8.7% were using walkers and 80.4% were using two crutches to assist their walking abilities, whereas at the time of discharge 89.1% of patients used two crutches and 4.4% used one crutch for assistance, while 6.5% were able to walk unassisted. The adequate prosthetic rehabilitation in patients with lower limb amputations due to tumour is important preconditions for reintegration into the family and community.

Developing consensus on important factors associated with lower limb prosthetic prescription and use

“…Users should be matched with the best technology to not only meet their physical needs and restore functionality to the fullest extent possible but also to ensure they are satisfied psychologically and socially [7]. It is also recognized that it is no longer sufficient to simply measure hours of time wearing the prosthesis or frequency of use as sole indicators of outcome [8,9]. Identifying the important outcomes, predictors and facilitators of lower limb prosthetic prescription and use is an important step in meeting the needs of service users.…”

Rehabilitation of Oncological Amputee Patients

“…The average age of the authors' oncological patients was 58 years (17-85), most of the patients (67.2%) were over 60 years old, and only 2 patients (3%) were younger than 20. In some other studies the patients were some years younger [4]. About 50% of lower limb amputees due to leg tumors have a life expectancy more than five years [5].…”

“…About 50% of lower limb amputees due to leg tumors have a life expectancy more than five years [5]. So in all the amputees the prostheses for a high level of activity are indicated to provide the maximal possibility for efficient psychosocial reintegration [4]. The authors fitted 60 (89.5%) out of total 67 the patients with lower limb prosthesis in seven cases (10.4%) the prosthetic fitting was not possible because of progression of the disease or very bad healthy status.…”

Adaptation to prostheses among patients with major lower-limb amputations and its association with sociodemographic and clinical data

“…However, delays in referral to rehabilitation services are sometimes unavoidable, and this can lead to development of joint contractures and local complications, thereby making adaptation to the prosthesis more difficult. 16 Factors relating to the prosthesis have been most correlated with the outcome from rehabilitation. 17 Our results revealed that individuals who reported diabetes mellitus and hypertension showed a slight tendency towards a lower frequency of adaptation to the prosthesis, although this was not statistically significant.…”