title: Developing prescribing guidelines for microprocessor-controlled prosthetic knees in the South East England.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Microprocessor-controlled prosthetic knees have gained increasing popularity over the last decade. Research supports their provision to address specific problems or to achieve certain rehabilitation goals. However, there are yet no agreed protocols or prescribing criteria to assist clinicians in the identification and appropriate selection of suitable users. The aim is to reach professionals' agreement on specific prescribing guidelines for microprocessor-controlled prosthetic knees.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study involved multidisciplinary teams from the Inter Regional Prosthetic Audit Group, representing nine Prosthetic Rehabilitation Centres in the South East England region. We used the Delphi technique with a total of three rounds to reach professionals' agreement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prescribing guidelines were agreed and will be reviewed and updated depending on new research evidence and technical advances.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This project is highly useful for professionals in a clinic setting to aid in appropriate patient selection and to justify the cost of prescribing microprocessor-controlled prosthetic knees.
authors.affiliation: The Prosthetic Rehabilitation Unit, The Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Stanmore, UK i_sedki@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Imad
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sedki
authors.affiliation: The Prosthetic Rehabilitation Unit, The Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Stanmore, UK.
authors.forename: Keren
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fisher
mesh_terms: D000674:Amputees / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003697:Delphi Technique; D004739:England; D006801:Humans; D007720:Knee Prosthesis / Q000191:economics; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000601:surgery; D008838:Microcomputers / Q000191:economics; D018579:Patient Selection; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000592:standards*
keywords: Delphi; Microprocessor knees; guidelines; prescribing