Veterans with bilateral lower limb amputations encounter a host of daily problems in daily life and social performance, according to data recently published in Prosthetics Orthotics International.
Researchers conducted a cross-sectional study of 291 veterans in Iran with war-related bilateral limb amputations, examining the effect of the amputations on daily activities and the ability to cope with mobility assistive devices. The results of the study showed that 74.9% of amputees surveyed reported limitations in at least one domain of the activities of daily living. The most common single item affecting patients was ascending and descending stairs by the score of 66% of normal population.
Additionally, 54% of right leg prostheses needed to be replaced and 3.4% needed to be fixed, while 52% of left leg prostheses needed to be replaced and 5.1% needed to be fixed.
Reference:
Ebrahimzadeh MH. Prosthet Orthot Int. 2014;pii 0309364614547410 [Epub ahead of print].
