Status of Mobility in Patients with Lower Limb Amputation Using Prostheses

Abstract

Amputation a loss of limb, results in chronic pain and disability of the limbs. People with amputations are limited in their daily mobility, and quality of life. Objective: To determine the mobility status in people with lower limb amputation using prosthesis. Methods: A total of 37 participants, both male and female with lower limb amputation and using lower limb prosthesis for four weeks or longer, took part in this cross-sectional study, conducted at the Pakistan Institute of Prosthetic and Orthotic Sciences Peshawar from 2020. Demographic data together with cause for amputation, time of use of prosthesis and employment status was determined by the researchers via a structured pre tested questionnaire after consent. Results: A total sample of 37 participants, 27 males (73%) and 10 females (27%), was collected where the mean age of participants was 43.65 ±14.72. Among the 37 participants, 30 (81.1%) were married and 7(18.9%) were unmarried. A total of 32(86.5%) participants underwent below-knee amputation while 5(13.5%) participants had above-knee amputation. The causes of amputation were bomb blast (n=8), diabetes (n=11), RTA (n=9) and bullet injury (n=9). All the participants underwent rehabilitation. A total of 2 participants (5.4%) experienced high difficulty in mobility, 24 participants (64.9 %) had moderate difficulty and 11 participants (29.7 %) had little difficulty. Conclusions: Perceived status of mobility was moderate (64.9%) in most of the prosthesis users. About 29.7% had little difficulty and very few number (5.4%) had high difficulty using prosthesis.