title: Comparison of prosthetic outcomes between adolescent transtibial and transfemoral amputees after Sichuan earthquake using Step Activity Monitor and Prosthesis Evaluation Questionnaire.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The devastating earthquake in Sichuan in 2008 has left many adolescent amputees. However, little research has been focused on the adolescent amputees who have high potential to return to premorbid activity level.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate daily step activities and prosthesis-related quality of life of the adolescent transtibial and transfemoral amputees after the earthquake.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective and descriptive study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 21 adolescent unilateral amputees (11 transtibial and 10 transfemoral amputees) were recruited. Step Activity Monitors and Prosthesis Evaluation Questionnaire were used to assess patients over a 3-month period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average number of steps per day was 4577 ± 849 and 2551 ± 693 in transtibial and transfemoral amputees, respectively. Transtibial amputees had significantly higher (p < 0.05) levels of step activity than transfemoral amputees in all Step Activity Monitors measures. Prosthetic compliance was good with daily wearing time of above 12 h/day in both groups. Prosthesis Evaluation Questionnaire scores showed no significant difference between two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The subjective quality of life is similar for adolescent amputees across transtibial and transfemoral amputation levels. Higher levels of step activity of transtibial amputees suggest that they have had lower energy expenditure and more capacity for ambulation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This article involves a unique subset of young amputees who have sustained traumatic amputations following a major natural disaster. It provides a better understanding on the daily activities and quality of life, and could assist in optimizing the prosthetic outcomes of this subset of populations.
authors.affiliation: The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong chun.kan.gabriel.chu@connect.polyu.hk.
authors.forename: Chun Kan Gabriel
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.affiliation: The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Man Sang
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Wong
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000673:Amputation, Traumatic / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery; D000674:Amputees / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D001186:Artificial Limbs; D015331:Cohort Studies; D055866:Earthquakes; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000601:surgery; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000379:methods; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017755:Prosthesis Fitting; D018570:Risk Assessment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013977:Tibia / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Prosthetic outcome; adolescent amputee; physical activity; post-disastrous