Prosthetic ambulation, utility, residual limb health and satisfaction level following patients with lower limb amputation.

Abstract

Purpose: To explore the ambulatory condition, utility, residual limb heath and satisfaction level of lower limb prosthesis patients in Bangladesh. Methodology: The cross-sectional study was chosen to carry out this study among 41 participants who were selected according to inclusion criteria from the Prosthetic and Orthotic department of CRP. Data was collected by using modified PEQ questionnaire Quantitative descriptive statistic was used for data analysis which focused through table, chart and discussion. Results: The study found that among the 41 participants the majority were younger (39%, n=16) people and most of them were male (82.9%, n=34) participants. 63.4% (n=26) were from rural area and unemployment was seen among them after amputation (26.8%, n=11) where there was no unemployment before amputation. Of all amputations, transtibial and transfemoral amputation were equal (46% each) others had knee disarticulation and partial foot (5%, 3%). In average ambulatory function were 77.29% and the younger partisans were responding more positively than the elder ones. The thinking about the utility of the prosthetic limb among the all ages people were almost average (75.15%). About their residual limb heath, almost every age group people answer those questions positively (86.27%). The older people were expressed their more satisfaction (94.67%) as they were still able to walk than the younger (86.85%). But there was statistically little positive correlation (r <0.01) present between age and satisfaction. Conclusion: From this study it could conclude satisfaction of the participants was approximately 88%, ambulation was good and felt the importance of prosthesis and participants had good residual limb health after using lower limb prosthesis at least 4 weeks. Future surveys are required to collect more specific information about LLA patients for their better prosthetic rehabilitation in Bangladesh. Key words: Amputation, utility, residual limb health, prosthetic limb, lower limb prosthesis, satisfaction level, ambulatory function.