title: Reduction of residual limb volume in people with transtibial amputation.
abstract: The early postoperative phase after transtibial amputation is characterized by rapid residual limb volume reduction. Accurate measurement of residual limb volume is important for the timing of fitting a prosthesis. The aim of this study is to analyze the reduction of residual limb volume in people with transtibial amputation and to correlate residual limb volume with residual limb circumference. In a longitudinal cohort study of 21 people who had a transtibial amputation, residual limb volume was measured using a laser scanner and circumference was measured using a tape measure 1 wk postamputation and every 3 wk thereafter until 24 wk postamputation. A linear mixed model analysis was performed with weeks postamputation transformed according to the natural logarithm as predictor. Residual limb volume decreased significantly over time, with a large variation between patients. Residual limb volume does not correlate well with circumference. On average, residual limb volume decreased 200.5 mL (9.7% of the initial volume) per natural logarithm of the weeks postamputation. The decrease in residual limb volume following a transtibial amputation is substantial in the early postamputation phase, followed by a leveling off. It was not possible to determine a specific moment when the residual limb volume had stabilized.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, Center for Rehabilitation, Groningen, the Netherlands;
authors.forename: Audrey T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Tantua
authors.forename: Jan H B
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Geertzen
authors.forename: Jan J A M
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: van den Dungen
authors.forename: Jan-Kees C
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Breek
authors.forename: Pieter U
authors.initials: PU
authors.lastname: Dijkstra
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000672:Amputation Stumps / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D000886:Anthropometry; D001186:Artificial Limbs; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009929:Organ Size; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D017755:Prosthesis Fitting
keywords: amputation; fluctuation; laser scanner; longitudinal study; lower limb; measurements; rehabilitation; residual limb; residual limb volume; transtibial