Prosthesis use in adult acquired major upper-limb amputees: patterns of wear, prosthetic skills and the actual use of prostheses in activities of daily life.
OBJECTIVE
To describe patterns of prosthesis wear and perceived prosthetic usefulness in adult acquired upper-limb amputees (ULAs). To describe prosthetic skills in activities of daily life (ADL) and the actual use of prostheses in the performance of ADL tasks. To estimate the influence of prosthetic skills on actual prosthesis use and the influence of background factors on prosthetic skills and actual prosthesis use.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study analysing population-based questionnaire data (n = 224) and data from interviews and clinical testing in a referred/convenience sample of prosthesis-wearing ULAs (n = 50). Effects were analysed using linear regression.


RESULTS
80.8% wore prostheses. 90.3% reported their most worn prosthesis as useful. Prosthetic usefulness profiles varied with prosthetic type. Despite demonstrating good prosthetic skills, the amputees reported actual prosthesis use in only about half of the ADL tasks performed in everyday life. In unilateral amputees, increased actual use was associated with sufficient prosthetic training and with the use of myoelectric vs cosmetic prostheses, regardless of amputation level. Prosthetic skills did not affect actual prosthesis use. No background factors showed significant effect on prosthetic skills.


CONCLUSIONS
Most major ULAs wear prostheses. Individualised prosthetic training and fitting of myoelectric rather than passive prostheses may increase actual prosthesis use in ADL.
Innlandet Hospital Trust, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ottestad, Norway. kristin.ostlie@sykehuset-innlandet.no
Kristin
K
Østlie
Ingrid Marie
IM
Lesjø
Rosemary Joy
RJ
Franklin
Beate
B
Garfelt
Ola Hunsbeth
OH
Skjeldal
Per
P
Magnus
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology*; D000674:Amputees / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D019736:Prostheses and Implants / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D034941:Upper Extremity