title: Analyses of prosthetic episodes in lower limb amputees.
abstract: The provision and maintenance of prostheses in 100 trans-femoral amputees and 73 trans-tibial amputees were retrospectively analysed over a 10-year period. The aim of the study was to analyse the prosthetic episodes, i.e., the need for maintenance, repairs and replacements to a trans-femoral and a trans-tibial prosthesis and frequency of new sockets prescribed over the same period of use by established adult amputees. The study showed that the trans-femoral amputees needed 0.96 new prostheses, 3.27 new sockets, 2.31 major repairs, 3.36 component changes and 21.85 minor repairs. Younger trans-femoral amputees aged less than 60 years needed 1.1 new prostheses, 3.15 new sockets, 2.06 major repairs, 4.23 component changes and 20.49 minor repairs. Younger trans-femoral amputees needed significantly more changes of prosthetic components (p = 0.04). The associated study on 73 trans-tibial amputees showed that they needed 1.4 new prosthesis, 2.9 new sockets, 3.2 major repairs and 14.1 minor repairs over the same 10-year period. The introduction and prescription of modular prosthesis as opposed to conventional limbs used earlier has possibly allowed components to be easily replaced thus reducing the need to replace a whole new prosthesis.
authors.affiliation: Alderbourne Rehabilitation Unit, Hillingdon Hospital, Uxbridge, UK.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nair
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Hanspal
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Zahedi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saif
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fisher
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000671:Amputation, Surgical / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D000674:Amputees; D001186:Artificial Limbs; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D017755:Prosthesis Fitting / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies