Prosthetic use and functional and social outcome following major lower limb amputation

TLDR

The study reviewed 175 consecutive below‑ and above‑knee amputees fitted with prostheses in Helsinki, collecting data on functional ambulation and social adaptation, with an average age of 62.2 years and 90 % follow‑up of surviving patients. During the first postoperative year, 11 % mortality was observed, yet 68 % of the 96 prosthesis users reported extensive regular use, 72 % of above‑knee and 85 % of below‑knee amputees achieved useful indoor ambulation, 88 % lived independently, and 34 % required regular home help.

Abstract

A total of 175 consecutive below and above-knee amputees sent to the prosthetic workshop in Helsinki for prosthetic fitting from 32 hospitals were reviewed to determine their functional ambulation and social adaptation. The average age of the patients was 62.2 years at the time of the prosthetic fitting. The mortality was 11% (19) during the first postoperative year. One-year postoperative information was obtained for 141 of the surviving patients (90%) by personal contact. At the time of the review, 68% of the amputees (96 patients) who had been fitted with a prosthesis made extensive and regular use of it. Half of all the above-knee amputees and 79% of the below-knee amputees used their prosthesis throughout the day or over seven hours a day. A total of 72% of the above-knee amputees (33/ 46) and 85% of the below-knee amputees (67/ 79) had useful ambulation, at least indoors. Of the 141 patients contacted, 124 (88%) lived in their own homes. The remaining 16 patients (11%) lived in apartment houses for the aged or old people's homes, A total of 48 amputees (34%) needed a regular home help.