Rehabilitation with Prostheses

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Intro & Pre-Prosthetic Care - Goals & Groundwork

  • Primary Goals: Restore function, mobility, independence, cosmesis, and improve Quality of Life (QoL).
  • Patient Assessment (Holistic):
    • Medical: Comorbidities, stump condition (vascularity, skin).
    • Psychological: Motivation, realistic expectations, body image.
    • Social: Support system, vocational needs, home environment.
  • Pre-Prosthetic Management (Stump Focused):
    • Stump Care:
      • Hygiene, skin inspection, wound healing.
      • Edema control: Elastic bandaging (figure-of-8), shrinker socks.
      • Stump shaping & maturation: Aim for conical/cylindrical shape.
      • Desensitization: Tapping, massage, friction.
    • Exercises:
      • Prevent contractures (esp. hip/knee flexion).
      • Strengthen residual limb, core, trunk, upper limbs.
      • Maintain/improve Range of Motion (ROM) of proximal joints.
    • Manage phantom limb sensation/pain.

⭐ Optimal stump length for Below-Knee Amputation (BKA) is 12.5-17.5 cm (Transtibial) from medial tibial plateau for best prosthetic fit and function.

Prosthetic Prescription - Fit For Function

  • Prescription: Individualized, considering:
    • Amputation: Level, residual limb (length, shape, skin, power).
    • Patient: K-level (functional potential), goals, comorbidities, motivation.
  • Component Selection:
    • Socket: Critical for fit (e.g., PTB, TSB, Ischial Containment).
    • Suspension: For secure attachment (e.g., Suction, Pin/Lock, VASS).
    • Knee/Ankle Units: Based on K-level (e.g., single-axis, multi-axis, microprocessor).
    • Terminal Device: Foot (SACH, dynamic response) or hand/hook.
  • Checkout & Verification: Ensures optimal fit and function.
> ⭐ Proper socket fit (total contact, specific pressure distribution) is paramount for prosthetic success and user comfort.

Lower Limb Training - Steps to Strides

  • Objective: Achieve safe, symmetrical, energy-efficient gait for functional independence.
  • Core Principles: Early mobilization, progressive weight-bearing, balance (static & dynamic), proprioceptive training.
  • Gait Training Sequence:
  • Essential Skills:
    • Prosthesis donning/doffing, stump hygiene.
    • Transfers: Sit-to-stand, bed, chair, floor.
    • Fall prevention & "up from floor" techniques. Gait Training Exercises for Lower-Limb Amputees

⭐ Energy expenditure with a transtibial prosthesis is typically 10-30% higher than normal; transfemoral can be 40-70% higher, impacting endurance.

Upper Limb Training - Grasping Independence

  • Goal: Achieve functional independence in Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) with the prosthesis.
  • Training Phases:
    • Controls Training: Mastering operation of terminal device (TD), wrist, elbow (if applicable). Body-powered (cable tension) or myoelectric (EMG signals).
    • Use Training: Repetitive drills for grasp, release, positioning. Focus on smooth, coordinated movements.
    • Functional Training: Integrating prosthesis into ADLs (e.g., eating, dressing, writing).
  • Grasp Patterns: Practice tripod, lateral (key), cylindrical, spherical, hook grasps with varied objects. Upper limb prosthetic grasp training setup

⭐ Phantom limb sensation/pain can significantly impact training; early management is crucial for prosthetic acceptance and functional use.

Complications & Outcomes - Bumps & Beyond

  • Stump Issues:
    • Skin: Dermatitis, ulcers, infection, verrucous hyperplasia, epidermoid cysts.
    • Pain: Residual Limb Pain (RLP) - neuroma, spurs; Phantom Limb Pain (PLP).
  • Prosthetic Problems: Socket misfit (pistoning, bell-clapping), alignment issues, component wear/failure.
  • Systemic: ↑Energy expenditure, contralateral joint OA, psychological impact.
  • Management: Hygiene, socket adjustments, pain meds (gabapentin for PLP), therapy.
  • Outcomes: Measured by Amputee Mobility Predictor (AMP), Timed Up and Go (TUG), 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT); patient satisfaction (TAPES).

    ⭐ Verrucous hyperplasia at stump end often due to distal negative pressure/poor fit. image

High‑Yield Points - ⚡ Biggest Takeaways

  • Early mobilization and comprehensive pre-prosthetic training are vital for successful outcomes.
  • Phantom limb pain requires multimodal management: pharmacotherapy, mirror therapy, TENS.
  • Meticulous stump care (hygiene, desensitization, shaping) prevents infection and skin issues.
  • Progressive gait training focuses on balance, symmetrical weight-bearing, and efficient ambulation.
  • Correct socket fit is paramount; poor fit causes pain and prosthetic rejection.
  • Energy expenditure is notably ↑, particularly for transfemoral amputations.
  • Psychosocial support is crucial for addressing body image concerns and depression.

Practice Questions: Rehabilitation with Prostheses

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Amputation is often not required in:

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Flashcards: Rehabilitation with Prostheses

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_____ due to discomfort and poor appearance is the most common complication of bracing.

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_____ due to discomfort and poor appearance is the most common complication of bracing.

Poor compliance

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