title: Mobility of persons after traumatic lower limb amputation.
abstract: The objective of this study was to determine the influence of time span since amputation on mobility of persons experiencing traumatic lower limb amputation. A special questionnaire was sent to such persons and responses were analysed statistically. The subjects comprised 223 persons after traumatic lower limb amputation, residents of Slovenia. We discovered that 186 (74.2%) are using their prosthesis for more than 7 hours per day, 109 (52.2%) are able to walk outdoors without crutches, and 129 (57.8%) climb more than 20 stairs per day. In addition, those who are walking without crutches, walking longer distances, still cycling and driving a care are, on average, 5-10 years younger than the others. However, around one-third of persons who were young at the time of amputation face limitations of mobility later in life. A total of 76 (35.3%) are able to walk only up to 500 m out of doors, 38 (18.2%) can walk only with a pair of crutches, 62 (29.7%) need a cane or one crutch, and 37 (16.6%) cannot climb stairs. We conclude that successful fitting and usage of a prosthesis by persons after lower limb amputation promotes independent walking and mobility in everyday life. The level of independence achieved is related to time span since amputation.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Rehabilitation, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Burger
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marincek
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Isakov
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000673:Amputation, Traumatic / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001186:Artificial Limbs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003446:Crutches / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017524:Slovenia; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014186:Transportation / Q000379:methods; D016138:Walking