Article

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.
OBJECTIVES: To investigate daily step activities and prosthesis-related quality
of life of the adolescent transtibial and transfemoral amputees after the
earthquake. STUDY DESIGN:
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. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: 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.
CI - (c) The International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics 2014.

Langue : ANGLAIS