Rehabilitation of Oncological Amputee Patients

Abstract

Peripheral vascular disease is the main reason for lower limb amputation, mostly present in old persons. The number of lower limb amputations due to cancer is small, but affects all age groups. Surgery is the primary (main) treatment for most bone tumors, the main goal is to remove all of the tumor. Sometimes limb amputation is the only possible solution, resulting in severe impairment of body function and activity limitations. The final goal of rehabilitation is to enable patients to re-integrate to the highest possible level into their previous social life and work. The article presents the functional outcome of patients with lower limb amputation due to oncological disease-cancer of bone or soft tissue admitted for rehabilitation to the University Rehabilitation Institute Soča in the period from 2002 to 2012. During this period 67 amputees were admitted and 60 of them were fitted with appropriate lower limb prosthesis. Younger age and transtibial level of amputation were of better functional outcome than in transfemoral or hip disarticulation amputees.