Correlación entre pruebas y escalas de valoración funcional en el seguimiento a la adaptación protésica de personas con amputación de miembro inferior / Correlation among tests and functional assessment scales in the follow-up of prosthetic adaptation in people with lower limb amputation

Introducción: Existe gran disponibilidad de pruebas funcionales y escalas para evaluar distintos aspectos en la adaptación de personas amputadas, pero aún no hay consenso respecto a las más apropiadas. Objetivos: Describir las medidas de correlación y asociación entre tres pruebas funcionales para amputados de miembros inferiores y definir cuál es la más adecuada. Evaluar la satisfacción general de los usuarios de prótesis de miembro inferior y su asociación con las pruebas funcionales. Métodos: Se incluyeron 83 personas con amputación unilateral de miembro inferior, usuarios de prótesis exomodulares de bajo costo. Instrumentos: escala de Houghton, la subescala de movilidad del cuestionario de evaluación protésica y la prueba de marcha de 2 minutos (2MWT). El análisis estadístico se realizó mediante la prueba chi cuadrado y el coeficiente de correlación de Spearman. Resultados: Las pruebas funcionales tuvieron una correlación y asociación aceptable entre sí, la correlación entre la escala de Houghton y el 2MWT fue de mayor magnitud (r=0,56 para la muestra total; r=0,53 para amputados debajo de rodilla). Las medidas de asociación no lograron resultados estadísticamente significativos para amputados por encima de la rodilla, ni para la satisfacción general. Conclusiones: La escala de Houghton y el 2MWT mostraron una buena correlación y asociación entre sí por lo que pueden ser considerados como instrumentos de primera línea para el seguimiento de los usuarios de prótesis exomodulares de miembro inferior. Para la satisfacción general no se identificó asociación importante con los instrumentos evaluados.(AU)

Introduction: There is a wide variety of functional tests and scales for the assessment of different aspects in the adaptation of amputees, but there is still no consensus on which are the most appropriate. Objectives: To describe the measures of correlation and association among three functional tests for lower-limb amputees and to define the most appropriate for this assessment. To assess general satisfaction in lower-limb prostheses users and its association with the functional tests. Methods: We included 83 unilateral lower-limb amputees who were users of low-cost exoskeletal prostheses. The instruments employed were the Houghton scale, the Prosthesis Evaluation Questionnaire - Mobility Scale (PEQ-MS) and the 2-minute walk test (2MWT). The statistical analysis was performed using the chi-square test and Spearman's correlation coefficient. Results: The functional tests evaluated had an acceptable correlation and association with each other, but the Spearman correlation between the Houghton scale and the 2MWT was of greater significance (whole sample: r=0.56; below-knee amputees: r=0.53). The association measures did not achieve statistically significant results for above-knee amputees or for general satisfaction. Conclusions: The Houghton Scale and the 2MWT showed a good correlation and association with each other, becoming possible first-line instruments for the follow-up of exoskeletal lower limb prosthesis users. No significant association was identified between satisfaction and the instruments measured.(AU)

Time Since Lower-Limb Amputation: An Important Consideration in Mobility Outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate associations between time since amputation (TSAmp) and mobility outcomes of adults with lower-limb amputation. DESIGN: A secondary analysis of a cross-sectional dataset, including 109 community-dwelling adults, 1 yr or more after unilateral transfemoral (n = 39; mean age, 54 ± 15 yrs) or transtibial (n = 70; mean age = 58 ± 14 yrs) amputation, was conducted. Participants attended standardized clinical evaluations and completed mobility-related outcome measures: Prosthesis Evaluation Questionnaire-Mobility Subscale, timed up and go, 10-m walk test, and 6-min walk test. RESULTS: After controlling for age, sex, amputation level, and etiology, TSAmp was significantly associated with each mobility outcome. Prosthesis Evaluation Questionnaire-Mobility Subscale and TSAmp were linearly associated, with TSAmp explaining 10.6% of the overall variance. Timed up and go test time and TSAmp were linearly associated, with TSAmp and an interaction term (LevelxTSAmp) explaining 8.4% of the overall variance; 10-m walk test speed and 6-min walk test distance had nonlinear associations with TSAmp, with TSAmp and nonlinear terms (TSAmp2) explaining 12.1% and 13.2% of the overall variance, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the findings, longer TSAmp may be associated with better Prosthesis Evaluation Questionnaire-Mobility Subscale score and timed up and go test time, whereas longer TSAmp may be associated with better or worse 10-m walk test speed and 6-min walk test distance depending upon time elapsed since lower-limb amputation. Estimations of postamputation mobility among adults with lower-limb amputation should consider TSAmp.

What Is the Implant Survivorship and Functional Outcome After Total Humeral Replacement in Patients with Primary Bone Tumors?

BACKGROUND: Total humeral replacement is an option to reconstruct massive bone defects after resection of locally advanced bone tumors of the humerus. However, implant survivorship, potential risk factors for implant revision surgery, and functional results of total humeral replacement are poorly elucidated because of the rarity of the procedure. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: We asked: (1) What is the revision-free implant and overall limb survivorship after total humerus replacement? (2) What factors are associated with implant revision surgery? (3) What is the functional outcome of the procedure as determined by the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) score and the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score? METHODS: Between August 1999 and December 2018, 666 patients underwent megaprosthetic reconstruction after resection of a primary malignant or locally aggressive/rarely metastasizing tumor of the long bones at our department. In all, 23% (154) of these patients had a primary tumor located in the humerus. During the study, we performed total humeral replacement in all patients with a locally advanced sarcoma, in patients with pathological fractures, in patients with skip metastases, or in patients with previous intralesional contaminating surgery, who would have no sufficient bone stock for a stable implant fixation for a single joint megaprosthetic replacement of the proximal or distal humerus. We performed no biological reconstructions or reconstructions with allograft-prosthetic composites. As a result, 5% (33 of 666) of patients underwent total humerus replacement. Six percent (2 of 33) of patients were excluded because they received a custom-made, three-dimensionally (3-D) printed hemiprosthesis, leaving 5% (31) of the initial 666 patients for inclusion in our retrospective analysis. Of these, 6% (2 of 31) had surgery more than 5 years ago, but they had not been seen in the last 5 years. Median (interquartile range) age at the time of surgery was 15 years (14 to 25 years), and indications for total humeral replacement were primary malignant bone tumors (n = 30) and a recurring, rarely metastasizing bone tumor (n = 1). All megaprosthetic reconstructions were performed with a single modular system. The implanted prostheses were silver-coated beginning in 2006, and beginning in 2010, a reverse proximal humerus component was used when appropriate. We analyzed endoprosthetic complications descriptively and assessed the functional outcome of all surviving patients who did not undergo secondary amputation using the 1993 MSTS score and the ASES score. The median (IQR) follow-up in all survivors was 75 months (50 to 122 months), with a minimum follow-up period of 25 months. We evaluated the following factors for possible association with implant revision surgery: age, BMI, reconstruction length, duration of surgery, extraarticular resection, pathological fracture, previous intralesional surgery, (neo-)adjuvant radio- and chemotherapy, and metastatic disease. RESULTS: The revision-free implant survivorship at 1 year was 77% (95% confidence interval 58% to 89%) and 74% (95% CI 55% to 86%) at 5 years. The overall limb survivorship was 93% (95% CI 75% to 98%) after 1 and after 5 years. We found revision-free survivorship to be lower in patients with extraarticular shoulder resection compared with intraarticular resections (50% [95% CI 21% to 74%] versus 89% [95% CI 64% to 97%]) after 5 years (subhazard ratios for extraarticular resections 4.4 [95% CI 1.2 to 16.5]; p = 0.03). With the number of patients available for our analysis, we could not detect a difference in revision-free survivorship at 5 years between patients who underwent postoperative radiotherapy (40% [95% CI 5% to 75%]) and patients who did not (81% [95% CI 60% to 92%]; p = 0.09). The median (IQR) MSTS score in 9 of 13 surviving patients after a median follow-up of 75 months (51 to 148 months) was 87% (67% to 92%), and the median ASES score was 83 (63 to 89) of 100 points, with higher scores representing better function. CONCLUSION: Total humeral replacement after resection of locally advanced bone tumors appears to be associated with a good functional outcome in patients who do not die of their tumors, which in our study was approximately one- third of those who were treated with a resection and total humerus prosthesis. However, the probability of early prosthetic revision surgery is high, especially in patients undergoing extraarticular resections, who should be counseled accordingly. Still, our results suggest that if the prosthesis survives the first year, further risk for revision appears to be low. Future studies should reexamine the effect of postoperative radiotherapy on implant survival in a larger cohort and evaluate whether the use of soft tissue coverage with plastic reconstructive surgery might decrease the risk of early revisions, especially in patients undergoing extraarticular resections. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, therapeutic study.

Differential experiences of embodiment between body-powered and myoelectric prosthesis users.

Prosthesis embodiment, the perception of a prosthesis as part of one's body, may be an important component of functional recovery for individuals with upper limb absence. This work determined whether embodiment differs between body-powered and myoelectric prosthesis users. In a sample of nine individuals with transradial limb absence, embodiment was quantified using a survey regarding prosthesis ownership and agency. The extent to which the prosthesis affected the body schema, the representation of the body's dimensions, was assessed using limb length estimation. Because body-powered prostheses offer proprioceptive feedback that myoelectric prostheses do not, it was hypothesized that both measures would reveal stronger embodiment of body-powered prostheses. However, our results did not show differences across the two prosthesis designs. Instead, body schema was influenced by several patient-specific characteristics, including the cause of limb absence (acquired or congenital) and hours of daily prosthesis wear. These results indicate that regular prosthesis wear and embodiment are connected, regardless of the actual prosthesis design. Identifying whether embodiment is a direct consequence of regular prosthesis use would offer insight on how individuals with limb absence could modify their behavior to more fully embody their prosthesis.

Escala observacional de la marcha del sujeto con amputación de la extremidad inferior: diseño y validez de contenido / Observational gait scale for persons with lower extremity amputation. Design and content validity

INTRODUCCIÓN: El patrón de la marcha se ve alterado en los sujetos con amputación de la extremidad inferior. Para su evaluación es importante el uso de escalas de observación de la marcha con una buena validez de contenido. OBJETIVOS: Diseñar una escala de observación de la marcha atendiendo a las principales alteraciones de la marcha de los sujetos con amputación y analizar su validez de contenido. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Para obtener una versión de la escala se conformó un comité de expertos. El mismo comité se ocupó de la evaluación de la escala. Se calculó el índice de validez de contenido (IVC), tanto para cada ítem como para la escala global. RESULTADOS: Se seleccionaron las principales alteraciones cinemáticas y espaciotemporales para el desarrollo de los ítems. La escala se compone de 2secciones y 25 ítems, con una puntuación máxima de 35 puntos. Se obtuvo una puntuación global IVC de 0,90, y un índice de validez para la mayoría de los ítems con valores superiores a 0,78. CONCLUSIÓN: La Escala observacional de la marcha del sujeto con amputación de la extremidad inferior ha mostrado una validez de contenido excelente de acuerdo con el IVC obtenido. Futuros estudios deben evaluar su fiabilidad y validez de constructo

INTRODUCTION: Gait pattern is altered in persons with lower extremity amputation. To assess gait pattern, it is important to use observational gait scales with a good content validity. OBJECTIVES: To design an observational gait scale and to analyze its content validity. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An expert committee was formed to obtain a version of the scale. The same committee was responsible for evaluating the scale. The content validity index (CVI) was calculated, both for each item and for the global scale. RESULTS: The main kinematic and spatiotemporal alterations were selected to design the items. The scale consists of 2sections and 25 items, with a maximum score of 35 points. An overall CVI score of 0.90 was obtained, and an index of validity for most items with values higher than 0.78. CONCLUSION: The Observational gait scale for persons with amputation of the lower extremity showed excellent content validity according to the CVI obtained. Future studies should evaluate its reliability and construct validity

SwedeAmp-the Swedish Amputation and Prosthetics Registry: 8-year data on 5762 patients with lower limb amputation show sex differences in amputation level and in patient-reported outcome.

Background and purpose - For want of national guidelines for lower limb amputation (LLA) the quality registry SwedeAmp was started in 2011 to increase knowledge around LLA and prosthetic rehabilitation. We now present data from the first 8 years of registration.Patients and methods - We present descriptive data from the first 8 years (2011-2018) of registration. Patient-reported outcome was collected at baseline and at follow-up 12 and 24 months after surgery for patients with prosthetic supply and included generic (EQ-5D-5L) and amputee-specific (e.g., LCI-5L and Prosthetic Use Score) measures. Sex differences were investigated.Results - As at December 31, 2018, 5,762 patients, 7,776 amputations, 2,658 prosthetic supplies, 1,848 baselines, and 2,006 follow-ups were registered. 61% of the patients were male, and mean age by the time of the first registered amputation was 74 years (SD 14). Women were older, more frequently had vascular disease without diabetes and more often underwent amputation at a higher level compared with men (p < 0.001). Time from amputation to fitting of first individual prosthesis was median 69 days (6-500) after transtibial amputation (TTA) and 97 days (19-484) after transfemoral amputation (TFA). The outcomes were lower after TFA than after TTA.Interpretation - SwedeAmp shows sex differences concerning amputation level, diagnosis, and age, leading to the conclusion that women have worse preconditions for successful prosthetic mobility after LLA. With increasing coverage, SwedeAmp can provide deeper knowledge with regard to patients undergoing LLA in Sweden.

Qualitative analysis of resilience characteristics of people with unilateral transtibial amputation.

BACKGROUND: Resilience characteristics are a significant factor in the highly variable rehabilitation outcomes for people in middle age or later with transtibial amputation. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to describe resilience characteristics meaningful to people with transtibial amputation in middle age or later, who use a prosthesis. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were conducted, audio recorded, and transcribed with eighteen participants. Interview transcripts were coded and analyzed using a directed content analysis approach, guided by Charney's theory of resilience and Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale scores. RESULTS: Five main resilience characteristics (themes) were identified: coping skills, cognitive flexibility, optimism, skill for facing fear, and social support. Participants with higher resilience scores generally described effective use of coping skills, cognitive flexibility, optimism, skills in facing fears, and social support to attain meaningful goals. In contrast, participants with lower resilience scores discussed passive coping strategies, cognitive rigidity, general pessimism, avoidance of activities due to fear, or social support limitations. CONCLUSION: Coping skills, cognitive flexibility, optimism, skills for facing fear, and social support were identified as meaningful resilience characteristics for people with transtibial amputation in middle age or later. These characteristics can be targeted and enhanced using resilience interventions. Future research should consider these characteristics when designing and testing rehabilitation focused resilience interventions for people with TTA.

Kinematic analysis of motor learning in upper limb body-powered bypass prosthesis training.

Motor learning and compensatory movement are important aspects of prosthesis training yet relatively little quantitative evidence supports our current understanding of how motor control and compensation develop in the novel body-powered prosthesis user. The goal of this study is to assess these aspects of prosthesis training through functional, kinematic, and kinetic analyses using a within-subject paradigm compared across two training time points. The joints evaluated include the left and right shoulders, torso, and right elbow. Six abled-bodied subjects (age 27 ± 3) using a body-powered bypass prosthesis completed the Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function Test and the targeted Box and Blocks Test after five training sessions and again after ten sessions. Significant differences in movement parameters included reduced times to complete tasks, reduced normalized jerk for most joints and tasks, and more variable changes in efficiency and compensation parameters for individual tasks and joints measured as range of motion, maximum angle, and average moment. Normalized jerk, joint specific path length, range of motion, maximum angle, and average moment are presented for the first time in this unique training context and for this specific device type. These findings quantitatively describe numerous aspects of motor learning and control in able-bodied subjects that may be useful in guiding future rehabilitation and training of body-powered prosthesis users.

Long-term outcomes of limb salvage treatment with custom-made extendible endoprosthesis for bone sarcoma around the knee in children.

BACKGROUND: Limb salvage for bone sarcoma around the knee in skeletally immature children is challenging because of interference on two critical growth plates in the lower limb. This retrospective study aims to evaluate long-term outcomes and influence on growth of the lower limb of the cemented extendible endoprostheses. METHODS: Forty-five children with bone sarcoma around the knee, who underwent custom-made extendible endoprosthesis replacements, were included in this study. The average follow-up was 10.1 years. Survival, prosthetic-related complications and revision, functional outcomes, and influence on growth by prosthesis implantation were recorded. RESULTS: The 5-year disease-free survival and overall survival are 54.9% and 72.7%, and the 5-year prosthesis survival rate is 59.4%. The prosthesis was extended 4.2 cm in average. Limb length discrepancies of 20 patients were within 2 cm, and growth inhibition of proximal tibial epiphysis by passive implant insertion was observed. Aseptic loosening in 7 patients was the most significant complication. The Musculoskeletal Tumor Society score at last visit was 83.2%. CONCLUSIONS: The use of custom-made extendible endoprosthesis provided good functional results for children with bone tumor around the knee. Further improvement of the prosthesis design and operation technique will help to decrease complication and gain better limb function.

Test-retest reliability of the special interest group on amputation medicine/Dutch working group on amputations and prosthetics mobility scale, in persons wearing a prosthesis after a lower-limb amputation.

Purpose: To assess the test-retest reliability of the Special Interest Group on Amputation Medicine Mobility Scale/Dutch Working Group on Amputations and Prosthetics, better known as SIGAM/WAP mobility scale, in persons with a lower-limb amputation.Method: Longitudinal study at the outpatient departments of a rehabilitation center and a university medical center. Persons with a lower-limb amputation, wearing a prosthesis, were assessed at the end of their multidisciplinary rehabilitation treatment twice, with a 3-week interval, by the same practitioner. Test-retest reliability was quantified using the intraclass correlation coefficient for agreement.Results: Eighty persons participated (mean age ± SD, 61 ± 15 years; 61% men; 76% vascular cause of amputation; 70% able to walk >50m). Fifty-one of them rated themselves to be stable with respect to their mobility and their intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.90 (95% confidence intervals 0.84-0.94).Conclusions: The Special Interest Group on Amputation Medicine Mobility Scale/Dutch Working Group on Amputations and Prosthetics had, at the outpatient departments of a rehabilitation center and a university medical center, excellent test-retest reliability in persons wearing a prosthesis after a lower-limb amputation.Implications for rehabilitationThe Special Interest Group on Amputation Medicine/Dutch Working Group on Amputations and Prosthetics Mobility Scale was developed to classify mobility after a lower-limb amputation and wearing a prosthesis.The Dutch translation of this mobility scale has excellent test-retest reliability.

Comparison of the Functional Outcomes of Lower Limb Amputees with or without End-Stage Renal Disease.

BACKGROUND: The potential for full rehabilitation following amputation among end-stage renal disease patients is poor. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the functional outcomes and survival among amputees treated with hemodialysis at the end of the rehabilitation procedure. METHODS: We recruited 46 patients after lower limb amputation. Of these individuals, 19 (41.3%) were treated with dialysis and 27 (58.7%) were non-dialysis-dependent patients (NDDP). Both groups were divided into three sub-groups according to their independence with regard to activities of daily living (ADL) and their ability to walk with prostheses. RESULTS: The survival of lower limb amputees treated with dialysis was shorter compared to NDDP. Survival after amputation among the NDDP who were fully or partially independent in ADL and with regard to mobility, was longer compared to the non-mobile amputees as with the patients treated with dialysis. CONCLUSIONS: Survival was significantly longer in lower limb amputees NDDP and shorter in patients who did not achieve a certain level of functioning.

Implementation of 3D Printing Technology in the Field of Prosthetics: Past, Present, and Future.

There is an interesting and long history of prostheses designed for those with upper-limb difference, and yet issues still persist that have not yet been solved. Prosthesis needs for children are particularly complex, due in part to their growth rates. Access to a device can have a significant impact on a child's psychosocial development. Often, devices supporting both cosmetic form and user function are not accessible to children due to high costs, insurance policies, medical availability, and their perceived durability and complexity of control. These challenges have encouraged a grassroots effort globally to offer a viable solution for the millions of people living with limb difference around the world. The innovative application of 3D printing for customizable and user-specific hardware has led to open-source Do It Yourself "DIY" production of assistive devices, having an incredible impact globally for families with little recourse. This paper examines new research and development of prostheses by the maker community and nonprofit organizations, as well as a novel case study exploring the development of technology and the training methods available. These design efforts are discussed further in the context of the medical regulatory framework in the United States and highlight new associated clinical studies designed to measure the quality of life impact of such devices.

Prosthetic use by persons with unilateral transfemoral amputation in a South African setting.

BACKGROUND: Due to limitations in provision of prosthetic care in South Africa, a screening tool to select transfemoral prosthetic candidates has been implemented. OBJECTIVE: To describe prosthetic services, use and mobility of people with transfemoral amputation, identified as prosthetic candidates through the Guidelines for Screening of Prosthetic Candidates: Lower Limb, and to identify variables that might influence prosthetic use and mobility. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. METHODS: The study population included all adults who received their first prosthesis from the Orthotic and Prosthetic Centre in the Western Cape between 1 June 2011 and 31 December 2014. Data were collected, with an adapted version of the Prosthetic Profile of the Amputee, from 43 participants, through telephonic interviews. Descriptive and inferential analysis, with the chi-square test, was done. RESULTS: The majority of participants were older than 50 years (77%). Most participants (35; 81%) used their prosthesis; however, only 42% (18) used it daily. A significant association ( p = 0.000) was found between prosthetic rehabilitation and self-reported prosthetic walking distance. Less than half of participants received prosthetic rehabilitation and only 10 (30%) could walk 500 steps and more without resting. CONCLUSION: Participants used their prosthetic leg, but experienced limitations in frequency of wear and mobility. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Current findings showed that participants' prosthetic mobility was curtailed. In less-resourced settings, carefully selecting prosthetic candidates may be necessary to provide access to services. Prosthetic provision is advised to be followed up with prosthetic rehabilitation for favourable mobility outcomes.

Gaitography on lower-limb amputees: Repeatability and between-methods agreement.

BACKGROUND:: Gaitography is gait parametrization from center-of-pressure trajectories of walking on an instrumented treadmill. Gaitograms may be useful for prosthetic gait analyses, as they can be rapidly and unobtrusively collected over multiple gait cycles without constraining foot placement. However, its reliability must still be established for prosthetic gait. OBJECTIVES:: To evaluate (a) within-method test-retest repeatability and (b) between-methods agreement for temporal gait events (foot contact, foot off) and gait characteristics (e.g. step times, single-support duration). STUDY DESIGN:: Cohort study with repeated measurements. METHODS:: Ten male proficient prosthetic walkers with a unilateral trans-femoral or trans-tibial amputation were equipped with a pressure-insole system and were invited to walk on separate days on an instrumented treadmill. RESULTS:: We found better between-methods reproducibility than within-method repeatability in temporal gait characteristics. Step times, stride times, and foot-contact events matched well between the two methods. In contrast, insole-based foot-off events were detected one-to-two samples earlier. Likewise, a similar bias was observed for temporal gait characteristics that incorporated foot-off events. CONCLUSION:: Notwithstanding small systematic biases, the good between-methods agreement indicates that temporal gait characteristics may be determined interchangeably with gaitograms and insoles in persons with a prosthesis. However, the relatively poorer test-retest repeatability hinders longitudinal assessments with either method. CLINICAL RELEVANCE:: Clinical practice could potentially benefit from gaitography as an efficient, unobtrusive, easy to use, automatized, and patient-friendly means to objectively parametrize prosthetic gait, with immediate availability of test results allowing for prompt clinical decision-making. Temporal gait parameters demonstrate good between-methods agreement, but poorer within-method repeatability hinders detecting prosthetic gait changes.

Are people with lower limb amputation changing? A seven-year analysis of patient characteristics at admission to inpatient rehabilitation and at discharge.

Purpose: What are the characteristics of people with lower limb amputation at admission to, and discharge from, subacute rehabilitation? Have these characteristics changed over time?Methods: A total of 425 lower limb amputation inpatient rehabilitation admissions (335 individuals) from 2005 to 2011 were examined. Admission characteristics, including aetiology, gender, age, amputation level, cognition (Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)), indoor mobility aid, motor function (Functional Independence Measure motor subscale) and number and type of comorbidities, and discharge characteristics, including prosthetic prescription, motor function, discharge mobility aid, and destination were compared by admission date and year.Results: Proportion of people with lower limb amputation with nonvascular aetiology increased over time (2004, 15% to 2011, 24%) (ß = -181.836, p < 0.001). Admission cognition increased over time (ß = 9.296, p < 0.001). Motor function worsened over time; median admission (IQR) Functional Independence Measure motor 70 (59-77) in 2005 to 67 (51.5-73.25) in 2011 (ß = -1.937, p < 0.001) and discharge from 81 in 2005 to 79 in 2011 (ß = -1.267, p < 0.001). Prosthetic prescription rates were highest in 2005 (68%) decreasing to 47% in 2010 (ß = -200.473, p < 0.001).Conclusions: Total numbers of people with lower limb amputation did not change over the seven-year study period. Changes were observed in aetiology, cognition and motor function. Prosthetic prescription rates decreased over time.Implications for rehabilitationRehabilitation should account for the changing characteristics of people with lower limb amputation.Motor function should be addressed as part of rehabilitation to optimise the patient's ability to return home and to the community.Prescription rates for lower limb prostheses reduced across time, indicating more specific selection processes and refined clinical decision making; this decision is best informed by a multi-disciplinary approach.

Experiences of lower limb prosthetic users in a rural setting in the Mpumalanga Province, South Africa.

BACKGROUND:: Ambulation with a prosthesis is the ultimate goal of rehabilitation for a person with a major lower limb amputation. Due to challenges with prosthetic service delivery in rural settings, many patients with amputations are not benefitting from prosthetic interventions. Inaccessibility to prosthetic services results in worse functional outcomes and quality of life. Learning from the experiences of current prosthetic users in this setting can assist to improve prosthetic service delivery. OBJECTIVES:: To explore the experiences of lower limb prosthetic users and to understand the importance of a lower limb prosthesis to a prosthetic user in a rural area of South Africa. STUDY DESIGN:: A generic qualitative approach and an explorative design were utilised in this study. METHODS:: A semi-structured interview guide was used to collect data from nine prosthetic users in a rural area in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically. Demographic details and information related to acute in-patient rehabilitation were analysed descriptively. RESULTS:: All participants were independent in activities of daily living with their prosthesis and participated actively in their community. Participants reported that their prosthesis was essential to their functioning. High travel cost was highlighted as a barrier to the maintenance of their prosthesis. Patients were dissatisfied with being unemployed. CONCLUSION:: Prosthetic intervention positively influences function, independence and community participation. Challenges relating to the accessibility, cost and maintenance of prosthetics should be a priority to ensure continued functional independence for prosthetic users. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Understanding the importance of a prosthesis to a prosthetic user validates prosthetic intervention for persons living with an amputation in a rural setting and is vital in establishing and remodelling effective systems for prosthetic service delivery.

Upper body accelerations during level walking in transtibial amputees.

BACKGROUND:: The observation of upper body movement is gaining interest in the gait analysis community. Recent studies involved the use of body-worn motion sensors, allowing translation of laboratory measurements to real-life settings in the context of patient monitoring and fall prevention. OBJECTIVES:: It was shown that amputee persons demonstrate altered acceleration patterns due to the presence of prosthetic components, while no information is available on how accelerations propagate upwards to the head during level walking. This descriptive study aims to fill this gap. STUDY DESIGN:: Original research report. METHODS:: Twenty definitive prosthesis users with transtibial amputation and 20 age-matched able-bodied individuals participated in the study. Three magneto-inertial measurement units were placed at head, sternum and pelvis level to assess acceleration root mean square. Three repetitions of the 10-m walking test were performed at a self-selected speed. RESULTS:: Acceleration root mean square was significantly larger at pelvis and head level in individuals with amputation than in able-bodied participants, mainly in the transverse plane ( p < 0.05). Differences were also observed in how accelerations propagate upwards, highlighting that a different motor strategy is adopted in amputee persons gait to compensate for increased instability. CONCLUSION:: The obtained parameters allow an objective mobility assessment of amputee persons that can integrate with the traditional clinical approach. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Transtibial amputees exhibit asymmetries due to the sound limb's support prevalence during gait: this is evidenced by amplified accelerations on the transverse plane and by related differences in upper body movement control. Assessing these accelerations and their attenuations upwards may be helpful to understand amputee's motor strategies and to improve prosthetic training.

Barriers and facilitators to utilisation of rehabilitation services amongst persons with lower-limb amputations in a rural community in South Africa.

BACKGROUND:: Persons with disabilities who reside in rural areas experience challenges accessing and utilising health services and rehabilitation. Due to the high prevalence of diabetes mellitus in rural regions, the risk of having a lower-limb amputation is increasing. Comprehensive rehabilitation is vital to mitigate the negative impact that a lower-limb amputation has on a person. OBJECTIVE:: To explore the barriers and facilitators to accessing rehabilitation experienced by persons with lower-limb amputations in a rural setting. STUDY DESIGN:: A qualitative descriptive approach was used to collect and analyse data. METHODS:: Data were collected from 11 conveniently sampled participants from three sub-district hospitals in the rural iLembe district, Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews to explore the barriers and facilitators perceived by persons with lower-limb amputations in a rural region. RESULTS:: The three main barriers identified in this study were environmental factors, financial constraints and impairments. These barriers negatively impacted the participant's utilisation of rehabilitation. The two main facilitators identified were environmental facilitators and personal factors which aided participant's utilisation of rehabilitation. CONCLUSION:: Access to rehabilitation was mainly hindered by the challenges utilising transport to the hospital, while self-motivation to improve was the strongest facilitator to utilising rehabilitation. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Rehabilitation is essential in preparation for prosthetic fitting. If a person cannot access rehabilitation services, they will remain dependent on caregivers. Highlighting the challenges to utilisation of rehabilitation in rural areas can assist to reduce these barriers and improve the functional status of persons with lower-limb amputations.

The effect of transverse prosthetic alignment changes on socket reaction moments during gait in individuals with transtibial amputation.

BACKGROUND: Alignment affects gait of individuals with transtibial prostheses. Sagittal and coronal alignment changes of the transtibial prostheses were demonstrated to affect socket reaction moments. However, the effects of transverse alignment changes on the socket reaction moments are not known. RESEARCH QUESTION: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of transverse alignment changes on the socket reaction moments and temporal-spatial parameters of gait in transtibial prostheses. METHODS: The effects of transverse prosthetic alignment changes (i.e. 10° and 5° of internal and external rotations: toe-in and toe-out of the foot relative to the socket from a baseline alignment) on the sagittal and coronal socket reaction moments and temporal-spatial parameters (gait speed, cadence and step width) while walking in 9 individuals with transtibial amputation were investigated using an instrumented prosthetic pyramid adaptor and a three-dimentional (3D) motion capture system. RESULTS: The transverse alignment changes demonstrated significant effects on the socket reaction moments in the coronal plane at 5% (P =  0.04), 20% (P =  0.04) and 75% (P =  0.0001) of stance phase. No significant effects were found in the socket reaction moments in the sagittal plane and the temporal-spatial parameters. The internal and external rotations of the prosthetic feet may have opposite effect in early and mid- to late-stance potentially due to changes in the spatial position of the heel (rearfoot) and toe (forefoot) of the prosthetic foot relative to the socket. SIGNIFICANCE: Transverse alignment of the transtibial prostheses should be tuned not only considering the symmetry in toe-out angles of the feet, but also considering the potential effects of transverse alignment changes that may affect the coronal socket reaction moments.

High complication rate after extendible endoprosthetic replacement of the proximal tibia: a retrospective study of 42 consecutive children.

Background and purpose - The long-term outcome of reconstruction with extendible prostheses after resection of tumors the proximal tibia in children is unknown. We investigated the functional outcome, complication rate and final limb salvage rate after this procedure. Patients and methods - 42 children who had a primary extendible replacement of the proximal tibia for bone tumor with a Stanmore implant between 1992 and 2013 were identified in the department's database. All notes were reviewed to identify the oncological and functional outcomes, the incidence of complications and the rate of amputation. 20 children were alive at final follow-up. Median follow-up time was 6 years and minimum follow-up for surviving patients was 3 years. Results - The overall limb salvage rate was 35/42; amputation was needed in 7 children. 15 implants were revised with a new implant. The Musculoskeletal Tumor Society Score was 73% (40-93) at final follow-up. The overall complication rate was 32/42. Soft tissue problems were the most common mode of complication, noted in 15 children, whereas structural failure and infection occurred in 12 children each. Use of prostheses with non-invasive lengthening was associated with a higher infection rate as compared with conventional ones (4/6 vs. 8/36) and inferior limb survival. Interpretation - Extendible replacements of the proximal tibia allow for limb salvage and satisfactory late functional outcome but have a high rate of complications. The use of non-invasive lengthening implants has not shown any benefit compared with conventional designs and is, rather, associated with higher risk for infection and amputation.