Skin problems of the stump and hand function in lower limb amputees: A historic cohort study.
The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between liner-related skin problems of the stump in patients with a lower limb amputation and impaired hand function. Sixty patients who were treated in a rehabilitation hospital from 1998-2006 were included in an historic cohort study. Data were collected concerning the amputation, skin problems of the stump, co-morbidity, hand function, the prosthesis, liner use and mobility score. The study population consisted of 50 trans-tibial and 10 knee disarticulation amputees, 43 male and 17 female, with a mean age of 62.3 years. The majority (63%) had a vascular reason for amputation. Blisters, folliculitis, rash and surface wounds on the stump were operationalized as being liner related. In patients with an impaired hand function, 70% had experienced liner-related skin problems of the stump, whereas 32% of the patients with a normal hand function had experienced skin problems (p = 0.035). This study shows that impaired hand function poses an increased risk for skin problems in the amputation stump in patients with a lower limb amputation and liner use in their prosthesis.
De Vogellanden Center for Rehabilitation, Zwolle, The Netherlands. e.c.t.baars@vogellanden.nl
E C T
EC
Baars
P U
PU
Dijkstra
J H B
JH
Geertzen
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000672:Amputation Stumps; D001186:Artificial Limbs / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001768:Blister / Q000209:etiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005076:Exanthema / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005499:Folliculitis / Q000209:etiology; D006225:Hand / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007717:Knee / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017755:Prosthesis Fitting / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013977:Tibia / Q000601:surgery