SAN ANTONIO — Six pre-amputation characteristics could predict if patients will be eligible for prostheses post-amputation, according to research presented here at the American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association National Assembly.
Kenton Kaufman, PhD, PE, and researchers at the Olmstead Medical Center and Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. conducted a retrospective, population-based cohort study of 93 adults who received a transfemoral amputation from 1987 to 2013. They collected data, including the year, location and cause of amputation. Patients’ living situations, pre-amputation mobility levels, cognitive abilities and comorbidities also were recorded.
Kenton Kaufman
The odds of receiving a prosthesis were 30 times higher for patients who were able to walk without an assistive device prior to amputation, Kaufman said. A significant time lapse between surgery and prosthesis decision was associated with an increase in prosthesis receipt for the first 3 months. Additionally, patients deemed as community dwellers and those with high cognitive ability were more likely to receive prostheses.
A 10-year increase in age was associated with a 54% decrease in the likelihood of receiving prostheses and patients with dysvascular disease were less likely to receive prostheses, according to the researchers.
Gender, race, location of the amputation and whether the patient was a bilateral amputee were not statistically significant, Kaufman said. Congestive heart failure, renal, cerebrovascular and rheumatic diseases were also not significant predictors of prosthesis receipt.
“So that is what the data shows,” Kaufman said, “but what about the interpretation? The main point, to me, is that there are plenty of opportunities for rehabilitation to increase the likelihood an individual receives a prostheses. That is the take-home message.” – by Shawn M. Carter
Reference: Kaufman K. Paper C6A/B. Presented at: American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association National Assembly; Oct. 7-10, 2015; San Antonio.
Disclosure: Kaufman reports no relevant financial disclosures.
