Effects of lower limb prosthesis on activity, participation, and quality of life: a systematic review.
BACKGROUND
Effects presented on the use of assistive devices such as prosthesis are often based on laboratory findings (i.e. efficacy).


OBJECTIVE
To summarise and evaluate findings from studies on effectiveness of lower limb prostheses for adults in real life contexts, primarily in terms of activity, participation, and quality of life (QoL) and secondarily in terms of user satisfaction, use/non-use, and/or cost-effectiveness.


METHODS
Systematic review.


METHODS
We included controlled studies and non-controlled follow-up studies including both baseline and follow-up data. Using 14 different databases supplemented with manual searches, we searched for studies published from 1998 until June 2009.


RESULTS
Out of an initial 818 identified publications, eight met the inclusion criteria. Four studies reported on the effectiveness of a microprocessor-controlled knee (MP-knee) compared to a non-microprocessor-controlled knee (NMP-knee). Results were inconsistent except for quality of life and use/non-use, where the authors reported an improvement with the MP-knee compared to the NMP-knee. The remaining four studies included a diversity of prosthetic intervention measures and types of endpoints.


CONCLUSIONS
Overall, there was an inconsistency in results and study quality. This review highlights the need for high-quality research studies that reflect the effectiveness of different prosthesis interventions in terms of users' daily living and QoL.


CONCLUSIONS
Clinical guidelines are important to every practitioner. Information on expected effectiveness from assistive devices should be well founded and contain both facts about the device quality and its contribution to users' daily lives. Thus, studies based on users' experiences from prosthetic use in everyday life activities are of great importance.
University Hospital, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Linköping, Sweden. kersti.samuelsson@lio.se
Kersti A M
KA
Samuelsson
Outi
O
Töytäri
Anna-Liisa
AL
Salminen
Ase
A
Brandt
D000328:Adult; D001186:Artificial Limbs / Q000523:psychology*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008838:Microcomputers / Q000191:economics; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D010358:Patient Participation / Q000523:psychology; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D058992:Social Participation / Q000523:psychology*