title: Evaluation of functionality in acquired and congenital upper extremity child amputees.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the functional level of children with congenital and acquired upper limb loss after a rehabilitation program.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study included a total of 40 children, aged 8 to 17 years with upper limb loss. Children were divided into two groups; congenital amputees (n=20) and acquired amputees (n=20). The children underwent prosthetic fitting, prosthetic training and rehabilitation. The Child Amputee Prosthetics Project - Functional Status Inventory (CAPP-FSI) and Prosthetic Upper Extremity Functional Index (PUFI) were used at the initial visit to the prosthetic unit without prosthesis, 3 weeks after the prosthetic training and 6 months after discharge with and without prosthesis. The results with and without the prosthesis were compared between the acquired and congenital amputee groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were significant differences in all tests performed at the baseline, at the 3rd week, and at the 6th month without prosthesis and at the 3rd week and at the 6th month with prosthesis (p<0.05). The congenital group received higher scores in the CAPP-FSI and PUFI at the baseline, at the 3rd week and at the 6th month (p<0.05). Patients in the congenital group used their prostheses for 8 hours a day and the acquired group for 4 to 8 hours.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Daily prosthesis usage time and the child's experience with the prosthesis during daily activities are the determining factors for the functional level in upper limb child amputees. Functionality may improve based on these factors.
authors.affiliation: Sevgican Special Training and Rehabilitation Center, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Korkmaz
authors.forename: Fatih
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Erbahçeci
authors.forename: Ozlem
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ulger
authors.forename: Semra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Topuz
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D000671:Amputation, Surgical / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D000674:Amputees / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D001134:Arm Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*; D001186:Artificial Limbs; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D017755:Prosthesis Fitting; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D034941:Upper Extremity; D038062:Upper Extremity Deformities, Congenital / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*