ABSTRACT
<p><b>Objectives:</b> This study was performed to elucidate the characteristics of amputees in our hospital. We also evaluated whether the causes and characteristics of the amputations influenced the patients’ prosthetic walking ability.</p><p><b>Materials and Methods:</b> We retrospectively examined 47 amputees in our hospital from December 1996 to April 2016 with respect to the causes and levels of amputation. Of 28 lower limb amputees from April 2008 to April 2016, 22 received prostheses and were divided into 2 groups according to the cause of the amputation, as follows: the internal cause group (e.g., vascular deficiency and infection) and the external cause group (e.g., trauma, burn injury, and crush syndrome). The characteristics and process of achieving prosthetic ambulation were compared between these groups.</p><p><b>Results:</b> Trauma was the most common cause of both upper (70.0%) and lower limb amputations (40.5%). Unilateral amputation was performed in 93.2% of patients (upper limb amputation, 100.0%; lower limb amputation, 91.9%). Patients were older in the internal than in the external cause group (<i>P</i> = 0.026). The serum albumin (<i>P</i> = 0.003) and total cholesterol concentrations (<i>P</i> = 0.046) on admission were significantly lower in the internal than in the external cause group. All patients in the internal cause group had comorbidities. The proportions of patients with diabetes mellitus (<i>P</i> = 0.011) and cerebrovascular disease (<i>P</i>=0.036) were significantly higher in the internal than in the external cause group. No significant difference in walking ability was found between the internal and external cause groups at the time of discharge.</p><p><b>Conclusion:</b> Most amputees in our hospital underwent unilateral lower limb amputation due to trauma. Although the patients with internal causes of amputation were older, more frequently had malnutrition, and had more comorbidities than those with external causes, they achieved prosthetic walking with statistically insignificant difference at the end of hospitalization, excluding six patients who had no prosthetic prescription.</p>
ABSTRACT
<p><b>Objectives:</b> To investigate the details of patients’ status on admission and at discharge at our hospital, to compare the ambulatory group and non-ambulatory group at discharge, and to assess the factors associated with ambulatory ability at discharge in patients aged ≥ 90 years with proximal femoral fractures (PFFs).</p><p><b>Patients/Materials and Methods:</b> Twenty patients admitted to our hospital for rehabilitation after surgery for a PFF were evaluated retrospectively. The rate of regaining ambulatory ability, presence of dementia, body mass index, serum albumin level, hemoglobin level, lymphocyte count, and functional independence measure (FIM) were assessed on admission and at discharge. Relationships between patients’ ambulatory ability and ambulatory parameters were compared between the ambulatory and non-ambulatory groups.</p><p><b>Results:</b> The rate of regaining ambulatory ability was 55% at discharge. The serum albumin level at discharge was significantly higher in the ambulatory group than that in the non-ambulatory group. More patients had dementia on admission in the non-ambulatory group than in the ambulatory group. On admission, scores for the cognitive items of the FIM (“expression” and “memory”) were significantly higher in the ambulatory group than those in the non-ambulatory group.</p><p><b>Conclusions:</b> The rate of ambulatory ability at discharge was 55% in those with a PFF, who were aged ≥ 90 years. The presence of dementia on admission and serum albumin level at discharge were factors related to ambulatory ability. It is very important to use a general rehabilitation protocol that takes cognitive function and nourishment into account, in addition to the physical aspect.</p>