Article

Persons in Israel losing a lower limb owing to disease and have an
ambulatory potential are provided with an artificial limb financed by the
Ministry of Health. The choice of foot provided depends upon the physicians'
assessment of the amputees' ambulatory potential.
The present study investigates
the patients' satisfaction with the provided limb. METHOD: A telephone survey was
carried out and patients were asked to reply to a number of relevant questions.
The less disabled patients', who received their prosthesis early, were
the most satisfied. Increasing patient disability correlated with less prosthetic
usage and hence greater dis-satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: Solid ankle cushion heel
(SACH) feet, which are cheap, are adequate for amputees with limited walking
ability. Just over 10% of the patients who received an artificial limb could not
continue using it and further studies should be conducted to investigate whether
any predictive features can be found in order to minimise the financial waste.

Langue : ANGLAIS