People With Trans-femoral Amputation Clinical Trial
Official title:
Activity, Mobility, Social Functioning, Mental Health and Quality of Life Outcomes in Limited Mobility Transfemoral and Knee Disarticulation Amputees Using Microprocessor-Controlled Knees or Non-Microprocessor Controlled Knees in the United Kingdom: A Cohort Study
About 21% to 35% of people with limb loss are those who lost their limb at trans-femoral
level (i.e. above the knee). The increasing number of diabetes-related limb loss (amputation)
and the rising proportion of older adult amputees indicates more amputees with limited
mobility in the future. Among other factors, prosthesis success highly depends on the
function of the knee joints during daily activities.
Presently, there are two categories of prosthetic knee joints; microprocessor-controlled
knees (MPKs) and non-microprocessor-controlled knees (n-MPKs). Whilst the n-MPKs are unable
to change the knee stiffness, the MPKs alter the joint stiffness and speed of movement
according to the users' walking speed.
Although past studies indicate that MPKs could result in reduced risk of falls, improved
balance and activity in limited mobility amputees, there is a lack of strong evidence on the
effect of MPKs on community outcomes. The aim of this study is to compare activity, mobility,
social functioning, depression, anxiety, and health-related quality of life in limited
mobility trans-femoral or through-knee (i.e. knee disarticulation) amputees who are users of
MPKs prosthesis with users of a prosthesis with n-MPKs.
n/a