Rehabilitation after bilateral lower extremity amputation.
Fourty-four men (average age, 61.5 years) who had undergone amputation of both lower extremities were studied at a Veterans Administration hospital. Vascular insufficiency was the most frequent reason for amputation. In 26 of the patients bilateral below-knee amputations had been performed. Although diabetes mellitus was present in 26 of the patients, it severely hampered rehabilitation in only four. Twenty-nine (nearly 65%) of the 44 patients became totally independent in daily functions. However, the average time required for maximum rehabilitation was almost 30 weeks.
D000368:Aged; D000674:Amputees; D001186:Artificial Limbs; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000601:surgery; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009983:Orthopedic Equipment; D012046:Rehabilitation; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000601:surgery