Article

Bone-anchored prosthesis is still a rather unusual treatment for
patients with limb loss. The aim of this study was to improve our
understanding about the experience of living with an osseointegrated prosthesis
(OI-prosthesis) compared to one suspended with a socket, through the use of
qualitative research methodology. STUDY DESIGN: A qualitative phenomenological
research method. METHODS: Thirteen Swedish patients (37-67 years) with unilateral
upper or lower limb amputation (10 transfemoral, 2 transhumeral, 1 transradial),
who had been using OI-prostheses for 3 to 15 years, were recruited by means of
purposive sampling. An audio-taped in-depth interview was performed. The guiding
question was 'How do you experience living with your osseointegrated prosthesis
compared to your earlier prostheses suspended with sockets?'. The empirical
phenomenological psychological method was used for data analysis. RESULTS: The
results showed that all participants described living with an OI-prosthesis as a
revolutionary change. These experiences were described in terms of three
typologies, called 'Practical prosthesis', 'Pretend limb' and 'A part of me'.
CONCLUSIONS: The most important finding was that the change went beyond the
functional improvements, integrating the existential implications in the concept
of quality of life. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This qualitative in-depth interview study
on patients using bone-anchored prosthetic limbs showed that all described a
revolutionary change in their lives as amputees and the meaning of that change
went beyond the functional improvements, integrating existential implications in
the concept of quality of life.

Langue : ANGLAIS