title: Evaluation of rehabilitated bilateral lower limb amputees - an Indian study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study assessed activities of daily living (ADL) and ambulation of rehabilitated bilateral lower limb amputees with relation to their level of amputation in an Indian setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective study of 25 subjects comprised 12 bilateral Trans-femoral (TF) amputees, 8 bilateral Trans-tibial (TT) amputees and 5 a combination of ipsilateral Trans-femoral and contralateral Trans-tibial amputation. All subjects were contacted by post/telephone, were physically examined and assessed at the Orthopaedic clinic at a mean follow-up of 6.6 years. Physical rehabilitation was evaluated using ADL score and by grading the level of ambulation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ADL scores showed no significant difference according to level of amputation (p > 0.05), but the scores of prosthetic users were significantly higher than non-prosthetic users (p = 0.002). Only 11/25 amputees became prosthetic ambulators and most (50%, 6/12) were TF amputees. All prosthetically rehabilitated subjects were mobilising with their prostheses at follow-up and graded as unlimited or limited community ambulators.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Though it is well documented that the potential for successful rehabilitation is best for bilateral TT amputees, given the subjects' economic constraints, higher prosthesis rehabilitation among bilateral TF amputees indicates that successful rehabilitation is possible in most subjects irrespective of the level of amputation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Punjab Institute of Medical Sciences, Jalandhar, Punjab, India.
authors.forename: Rajesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.forename: Suhas
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Masilamani
authors.forename: Amitabh J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Dwyer
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000671:Amputation, Surgical / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D000674:Amputees / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D001186:Artificial Limbs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007869:Leg Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016138:Walking; D014910:Wheelchairs