Rehabilitation of blind patients with lower extremity amputations.
Twelve consecutive blind amputee patients, including 7 unilateral and 5 bilateral amputees with a median age of 64 years, were studied. All were fitted with prostheses, and gait training was accomplished on an outpatient basis. Seventy-five percent of patients were successfully ambulating 2 years or longer following the amputation; 5 regained their preoperative levels of activity; 3 lost 1 grade; 4 lost 2 or more grades. All patients claimed that the quality of life had improved and self-respect was restored with the fitting of a prosthesis.
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000671:Amputation, Surgical / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D001186:Artificial Limbs; D001766:Blindness / Q000150:complications* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D008124:Locomotion; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012649:Self Concept