Assessment of the upper limbs maximum power and the locomotion speed in amputee football players

Abstract Aim: The purpose of the study was to assess upper limbs' maximum power and locomotion speed among amputee football (amputee soccer) players. Methods: The 30-s Wingate Anaerobic test and the 20-m sprint test were performed. Anthropometric measurements and body composition (Body mass index (BMI), percentage of body fat (% BF), and lean body mass (LBM)) were examined. Results: BMI significantly differentiated forwards and defenders (p < 0.05). Peak power (PP) and mean power (MP) were related to LBM (p < 0.05), thus defenders reached higher values of PP, in comparison to forwards. % BF and BMI were related to relative mean power (rMP) (p < 0.05). Field position differentiated players in terms of upper limbs' relative peak power (rPP) in favour of forwards (p < 0.05). Age was a significant factor for speed velocity on 10 m and 20 m (p < 0.05). There was no relationship between upper limbs' power and locomotion speed. Conclusion: Body composition, especially % BF may influence on the anaerobic performance of amputee football players.

Dolor fantasma en niños y jóvenes amputados congénitos: prevalencia y características clínicas / Phantom pain in children and youth with congenital amputations: prevalence and clinical characteristics

Introducción: El dolor es una patología discapacitante, que en niños está siendo abordada en los últimos tiempos, siendo el dolor fantasma en amputados congénitos una complicación impensada hace algunos años, considerando teorías que describían que carecían de la madurez biológica suficiente para experimentarlo. Actualmente, existe literatura que reconoce una prevalencia de dolor fantasma de 3,7 a 20% en la población de amputados congénitos. Objetivo general: Evaluar población de amputados congénitos del Instituto Teletón Santiago para determinar incidencia, prevalencia lápsica y características clínicas del dolor fantasma. Pacientes y Métodos: Estudio descriptivo de prevalencia, con revisión de ficha clínica para registro de variables demográficas y clínicas, y aplicación de encuesta telefónica al total de pacientes que asintieran y contaran con el consentimiento de sus padres. Se incluyó a todos los pacientes de 10 o más años; se excluyó a los con hipoacusia asociada o con imposibilidad administrativa para contactarlos. Resultados: 57 pacientes, edad promedio 18,6 años, 59,6% con deficiencia longitudinal. Ningún paciente presentó dolor fantasma en el último mes en la población estudiada. La prevalecia lápsica fue de 7,0%. Un 24,6% refirió además presentar sensación fantasma alguna vez en su vida y un 5,3% haber presentado dolor en el último año. Conclusión: Existe dolor fantasma en la población de pacientes amputados congénitos en los rangos de prevalencia encontrados en la literatura internacional contribuyendo a la evidencia existente. Este es el primer estudio en nuestro país que evalúa dolor en deficiencias congénitas y constituye una línea de base para estudios adicionales.

Introduction: Pain is a crippling pathology, which has been addressed in children only in recent times, and phantom pain in congenital amputees was a complication unthought to exist some years ago, considering theories that described that they lacked biological maturity enough to experience it. Currently, there is literature that recognizes a prevalence of phantom pain of 3.7 to 20% in congenital amputees. Overall objective: To evaluate the in vivo amputee population of Instituto Teletón Santiago, to determine incidence, lapses prevalence and clinical characteristics of phantom pain in these patients. Patients and Methods: A prevalence descriptive study was carried out, with a review of the clinical files to register demographic and clinical variables and application of a telephone survey to the total number of Instituto Teletón Santiago patients who agreed to participate and had the consent of their parents. We included all patients aged 10 years and over; excluding those with associated hearing loss, or inability to contact for administrative reasons. Results: 57 patients, mean age 18,6 years, 59,6% with longitudinal deficiency. No patient refered phantom pain during de last month in the study population. The lapsic prevalence was 7,0%. 24,6% of the population studied reported phantom feeling at som time in their lives and 5,3% had phantom pain during the last year. Conclusion: There is phantom pain in the population of congenital amputees in the prevalence ranges found in the international literature contributing to the existing evidence. This is the first study in our country that evaluates pain in congenital deficiencies and constitutes a baseline for additional studies.

A young woman with inevitable limb loss.

We report a pitfall in the management of a young 43-year-old female who presented with a history of claudication and threaten limb loss. Inappropriate axillobifemoral bypass graft surgery was performed, resulting in perioperative graft failure with progressive inevitable gangrene of the left leg. Rescue surgery was performed to salvage the right limb but she developed perioperative myocardial infarction. Delayed amputation was justified, pre-operative cardiac evaluation and aggressive percutaneous coronary intervention was performed followed by an uneventful definitive below-knee amputation of left leg. The patient was discharged and was referred for a left leg prosthesis.