Correlation of residual limb length and gait parameters in amputees.
There is a lack of objective data on acceptable transection levels for transfemoral amputation. We retrospectively correlated the residual limb length of 13 young, athletic transfemoral and knee disarticulation amputees with temporal-spatial, kinematic, and kinetic outcomes after gait analysis. It was hypothesised that shorter residual limb lengths would correlate with greater gait deviations. Patients' residual femoral lengths ranged from 57% to 100% of their intact femoral length. With the exception of one patient, pelvic tilt excursion was inversely related to residual limb length. Limb length did not significantly correlate with any other temporal-spatial, kinematic, or kinetic parameter investigated. Consequently, these results suggest that if the femur is at least 57% of the length of the contralateral femur, length does not dramatically alter gait. This implies that surgeons may have more flexibility to amputate at a higher level to preserve soft tissue quality and improve prosthetic fitting without sacrificing gait function.
Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC 20307, USA. Brian.Baum@amedd.army.mil
Brian S
BS
Baum
Barri L
BL
Schnall
John E
JE
Tis
Jill S
JS
Lipton
D000328:Adult; D000671:Amputation, Surgical / Q000379:methods / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000503:physiopathology; D001186:Artificial Limbs; D005269:Femur / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005684:Gait; D006621:Hip Joint / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D010388:Pelvis / Q000503:physiopathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult