Prosthetic usage among the Thai lower limb amputees.

ABSTRACT

Objective: To study the percentage of prosthetic usage and factors associated with prosthetic usage among lower limb amputees in Thailand. Methods: The postal survey with a questionnaire was sent to 1,300 amputees who received lower limb prostheses between 2001 and 2005. The participants were divided into two groups, namely, the prosthetic usage and prosthetic non-usage groups. A Chi-Square and an Independent Sample T test were used to compare the differences between the two groups. The multiple variables analysis by stepwise logistic regression was used to determine the associated factors. Results: Three hundred and nineteen questionnaires were completed among three hundred and twenty one returned questionnaires. The percentage of amputees who used a prosthesis over 5 hours per day was 82.1%. Demographically, the prosthetic usage group had less diabetes mellitus (p =0.010), were younger at the time of amputation (p <0.001), and had a currently employed status (p <0.001) than the non-prosthetic usage group. (You have not stated what you are comparing this group to!) In Amputation related factors the transtibial amputees were more likely to use prostheses (p <0.001). The factors associated with prosthetic usage were experiencing satisfactory to good wearing comfort (OR 12.83), a transtibial level of amputation (OR 9.65), having a currently employed status (OR 5.12), undergoing particular etiologies of amputation such as congenital problem or blast injury (OR 2.78) and being young at time of amputation (OR 0.95), respectively. Conclusion: The percentage of prosthetic usage among the Thai lower limb amputees was 82.1%. The factors associated with the prosthetic usage were wearing comfort, level of amputation, having a currently employed status and being of younger age at the time of amputation.