Clinical Features and Long-term Outcome of Lower Extremity Amputees: A Follow-up Questionnaire Study in Three Regional Centers

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical features of lower extremity amputees and the process of prosthetic fitting and its use at follow up and to know the effects of prosthetic rehabilitation on adaptation to prosthesis and its long-term use. METHOD: One hundred and twenty four patients who underwent amputation surgery in 3 major hospitals in Korea from 1990 to 1997 were enrolled. They were evaluated by reviewing of medical records for anthropometry, level of amputation, causes of amputation, other coincidental medical problems, general physical states and followed up by telephone and mail questionnaire with respect to general outcome, prosthetic fitting, satisfaction of prosthesis, state of prosthetic use, functional state of prosthetic ambulation. RESULTS: The most common cause of amputation was trauma. The mean time to fit the prosthesis was 4.1 months and only 38 patients was supervised by rehabilitation programs. The patients who were supervised by rehabilitation program were fitted and able to ambulate significantly earlier than those who were not. They wore and used prosthesis significantly more often than those who were not supervised. The patients with above knee amputation who were supervised were significantly independent with walking aids. CONCLUSION: Rehabilitation training program enables amtupees to be fitted and walk earlier with prosthesis. Also, this program lowered the dependency on walking aids in above knee amputees.