[Factors related to success in the prosthetic fitting of lower limb amputees from vascular etiology]. / Factores relacionados con el éxito en la protetización de amputados de extremidad inferior de etiología vascular.

OBJECTIVE: Restoring the ambulation ability with prostheses in lower limb amputeesis essential to improve their functional independence. The aim of this study was to determine the factors involved in achieving prosthesis fitting in vascular amputees. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Observational longitudinal study of patients with major lower limb amputation of vascular etiology performed from April 1st 2017 to April 1st 2020. The following variables were compared between the group of patients who were prosthetized and those who were not: age, gender, body-mass index, comorbidity (Charlson index), independence in the activities of daily living (Barthel index) and ambulation ability (FAC test) before and a year after the amputation. The prosthetic use after a year was measured with the Houghton scale. RESULTS: A total of 80 patients were amputated with a mean age of 70.5 years old, 78.8% were male. The amputation level was supracondilealin 42 patients and infracondilealin 38 patients. The number of prosthetized patients was 35. The variables related to the possibility of prosthesis fitting were: younger age (P=0.020), less comorbidity (P=0.000), infracondileal amputation (P=0.024) and greater functional independence and ambulation ability prior to amputation (P=0.000). After a year 22 patients had died, only one of those who had been prosthetized. CONCLUSIONS: Although there are no clear recommendations to determine which amputees should be prosthetic fitting, in our patients the presence of fewer comorbidities and a good previous functional situation, younger age and infracondileal amputation, are related to greater success in achieving this objective.

[Prognostic factors of functional recovery from a stroke at one year]. / Factores pronosticos de recuperacion funcional del ictus al año.

INTRODUCTION: Recovery of the ability to walk and independence is fundamental for any patient who suffers a stroke, and it can be influenced by a number of factors. AIM: To determine what variables are more important to achieve a good functional recovery at one year after the stroke. PATIENTS AND METHODS: An observational, longitudinal prospective study was conducted with 231 patients diagnosed with a stroke in the year 2013. An analysis was performed of the clinical characteristics, socio-demographic data, neurological situation at the time of hospitalisation -National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS)-, functional situation (Rankin Scale and Barthel Index) and ability to walk, both on hospitalisation and on discharge from rehabilitation and at one year. RESULTS: The mean age was 74.26 ± 13.1 years, and 55.4% were males. The mean length of stay in hospital was 16.24 days. 68.9% followed rehabilitation therapy, with an average of 95.5 sessions. Good functional capacity was recovered by 51.7% at one year (Rankin < 2 and Barthel > 85), and 63.5% regained the ability to walk independently. The factors that had the most significant influence on functional and gait recovery at one year were: lower age, NIHSS score < 10 in the first week, the type of stroke (small vessel), the absence of atrial fibrillation and better previous functional situation. CONCLUSION: At one year of having suffered a stroke, most of the patients recover the capacity for independent gait and to a lesser extent independence in activities of daily living.

TITLE: Factores pronosticos de recuperacion funcional del ictus al año.Introduccion. La recuperacion de la marcha y de la independencia es fundamental para cualquier paciente que sufre un ictus, y existen numerosos factores que pueden influir en ella. Objetivo. Conocer que variables son mas importantes para conseguir una buena recuperacion funcional al año del ictus. Pacientes y metodos. Estudio prospectivo, longitudinal, observacional, realizado en 231 pacientes diagnosticados de ictus en el año 2013. Se analizaron datos sociodemograficos, caracteristicas clinicas, situacion neurologica en el momento del ingreso ­National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS)­, situacion funcional (escala de Rankin e indice de Barthel) y capacidad de marcha, tanto en el momento del ingreso como en el momento del alta de rehabilitacion y al año. Resultados. La edad media fue de 74,26 ± 13,1 años, y un 55,4% eran hombres. La estancia media hospitalaria fue de 16,24 dias. El 68,9% realizo rehabilitacion, 95,5 sesiones como media. El 51,7% recupero al año una buena capacidad funcional (Rankin < 2 y Barthel > 85), y el 63,5%, la marcha independiente. Los factores que influyeron de forma mas significativa en la recuperacion funcional y de la marcha al año fueron: la menor edad, la NIHSS < 10 en la primera semana, el tipo de ictus (de pequeño vaso), la ausencia de fibrilacion auricular y la mejor situacion funcional previa. Conclusion. La mayoria de los pacientes al año de haber sufrido un ictus recupera la capacidad de marcha independiente y, en menor medida, la independencia en las actividades de la vida diaria.