Functional improvement with digital prosthesis use after multiple digit amputations

PURPOSE: Patients who sustain traumatic amputation of multiple fingers suffer both a functional and psychologic loss. Previous studies of prosthesis use for finger amputees have focused primarily on the psychologic benefits. Clinically our group noticed a functional improvement on hand function tests when patients with multiple digit amputations used a prosthesis. Given the expense of multiple finger prostheses we sought to determine if they led to a consistent functional improvement in these patients. METHODS: Ten consecutive patients performed a battery of hand function tests and rated their ability to perform a variety of activities of daily living both with and without their prosthesis using the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire. RESULTS: Our results show a significant improvement in 3-finger-pinch strength and grip strength and a trend of improvement of tip-pinch, lateral-pinch, and grip strength in dynamometer positions 1, 2, 3, and 4 in these patients when tested with and without their prostheses. Function in activities of daily living, as assessed by the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire, was improved globally with prosthesis use. In addition, significant improvement was noted in several specific activities including opening a jar, writing, and turning a key, among others. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that prosthesis use provides a functional benefit to these patients in multiple activities.     

How Common Are Chronic Residual Limb Pain,Phantom Pain,and Back Pain More Than 20 Years After Lower Limb Amputation for Malignant Tumors?

BackgroundAfter major lower limb amputation, persistent pain is common, with up to 85% of patients reporting recurring phantom or residual-limb pain. Although pain management is an important factor of quality of life in patients with lower limb amputations, there are few long-term data regarding the frequency of persistent pain and how it impacts prosthesis use.Questions/purposes(1) How prevalent are different types of pain at long-term follow-up after amputation for malignant tumors? (2) What association do different pain types have with daily prosthesis use?MethodsBetween 1961 and 1995, 124 major amputations for malignant tumors were performed at one center in Austria in patients (1) who spoke German and (2) whose surgical date resulted in the possibility of a minimum follow-up time of 20 years at the time of this survey; those patients were considered potentially eligible for this retrospective study. The indications for major amputation were to achieve local tumor control in limbs that the surgeon deemed unsalvageable without amputation. Of those 124 patients, 71% (88) had died, 9% (11) could not be reached, and 3% (4) declined to participate. Thus, 58% (21 of 36) of those living at the time of this study and who underwent lower limb amputation between 1961 and 1993 with a median (range) follow-up duration of 41 years (23 to 55) completed a standardized questionnaire, including an assessment of pain and daily prosthesis use during the year before the survey. Phantom pain, residual limb pain, and back pain were each further subclassified into pain frequency, intensity, and restrictions in activities of daily living (ADL) due to the specific pain form and rated on a 5- (pain frequency) and 10-point (pain intensity, restrictions in ADL) numerical rating scale. Before multivariate regression analysis, daily prosthesis use was correlated with pain parameters using Spearman correlation testing.ResultsSeventeen of 21 patients reported phantom limb and back pain, and 15 patients reported residual limb pain in the past year. Median (range) phantom pain intensity was 7 (1 to 10) points, median residual limb pain intensity was 4 (1 to 9) points, and median back pain intensity was 5 (1 to 10) points. After controlling for relevant confounding variables such as age at amputation, age at survey, and stump length, we found that less intense residual limb pain (defined on a 10-point scale with 1 representing no pain at all and 10 representing extremely strong pain [95% CI 0.3 to 1.0]; r = 0.8; p = 0.003) was associated with greater daily prosthesis use. Higher amputation levels showed a decreased daily prosthesis use compared with patients with lower amputation levels (defined as transfemoral amputation versus knee disarticulation versus transtibial amputation [95% CI 0.3 to 5.1]; r = 0.5; p = 0.03).ConclusionDecades after surgery, many patients with lower limb amputations experience pain that restricts them in terms of ADLs and decreases their daily prosthesis use. This information supports the need for regular residual limb inspections and careful prosthesis fitting even at long-term follow-up, as effective prosthesis fitting is a modifiable cause of residual limb pain. Future studies evaluating long-term treatment effects of pain relief surgery and therapeutic alternatives to conservative pain treatments should be performed, as these approaches may help alleviate pain in patients with refractory postamputation pain.Level of EvidenceLevel IV, therapeutic study.     

Mobility after amputation for failed knee replacement

Management of the failed total knee replacement is a formidable problem. In a 13-year period, 24 patients with above knee amputation following unsuccessful knee replacement were referred for prosthetic limb fitting. Adequate data was available for 23 patients. At review (or at the time of death), an average of 48.6 months after amputation, only seven of the 23 patients were regular daily walkers, although 10 patients had managed to walk for more than two years; 20 of the 23 used a wheelchair for some part of the day and 12 were confined to a wheelchair.     

Are Canadian prostheses used? A long-term experience

The Canadian prosthesis is indicated for the more proximal levels of amputation of the lower limb (very short trans-femoral, hip disarticulation and hemipelvectomy cases); it is frequently rejected by many patients for different reasons (awkwardness, intolerance of the socket, excessive energy expenditure to ambulate among others). The objective was to analyse the use or rejection of Canadian prostheses (n = 23) after an 8-year follow-up study (range: 2 -16 years). The sample consisted of 52% men and 48% women, and the average age at the time of amputation was 52.26 +/- 19.71 SD years (range: 1-74 years). The most frequent aetiology was malignant tumour (56.5%). Eight of the subjects continued to use the prosthesis through the entire study (34.7%). Gender, age, and aetiology were not significant determinants of use. The daily use was 12.5 h per day. The rejection of the Canadian prosthesis was after 20 months of use (range: 2-48 months), and the main reasons were death (all tumour causes), intolerance to the socket, or difficulty in ambulation. In conclusion, many years after their discharge from rehabilitation services, more than one-third of the sample (34.7%) were wearers of the Canadian prosthesis.     

Comparison of functional results of replantation versus prosthesis in a patient with bilateral arm amputation

Function was evaluated in a 12-year-old girl who had traumatic, bilateral proximal humeral amputation at seven years of age. Unilateral successful replantation was performed with subsequent nerve grafts and tendon transfers to improve function. The contralateral side was fitted early after amputation with a body-powered prosthesis. Subjectively, the patient preferred the replanted side for activities of daily living. The range of motion and strength was better overall on the replanted side. Sensory return, although poor when compared with a normal hand, allowed the patient when blindfolded to identify objects placed in the hand. The replanted arm offers better function than the prosthesis for most activities.     

Rehabilitation of the bilateral amputee

One hundred sixteen patients with bilateral amputation as a result of severe ischemia were reviewed to evaluate their rehabilitation potential. Seventy patients were male and 46 were female; ages ranged from 31 to 92 years (mean 68 years). The operative mortality rate after the second amputation was 9.5% (11 of 116 patients). The time from the first to second amputation ranged from zero to 144 months (mean 23 months). Follow-up from 1 to 14 years was available on all patients. Sixty percent of the patients surviving the postoperative period were alive at 2 years and 40% at 5 years. Of the 105 patients available for follow-up, only 27 (26%) were able to use bilateral prostheses. Twenty-three (85%) of these patients were ambulatory after their first amputation. Four patients not walking after their first amputation became ambulatory after their second. All four had bilateral below-knee amputations. Of the 78 patients unable to use a bilateral prosthesis, 68 (87%) were able to function independently and 10 became bedridden. Successful prosthetic rehabilitation in the bilateral amputee appears primarily dependent on the use of a prosthesis after the first amputation. The acceptable long-term survival and the number of patients who became independent in their activities justify an aggressive approach to the rehabilitation of the bilateral amputee.     

The below-the-knee amputation for vascular disease.

Of 190 consecutive patients with below-the-knee amputation done for diabetic or arteriosclerotic vascular disease, 167 were successfully fitted with a prosthesis and used the prosthesis in some or all of the activities of daily living. The surgical failure rate was 4.2 per cent; only eight patients required surgical revision to a higher level of amputation. The technique of rigid plaster dressing followed by delayed application of a plaster cast and pylon was not detrimental to wound healing and did not increase the interval between surgery and the use of the prosthesis, nor did it depress the eventual level of function. When compared with our own previous experience with other flaps, the long posterior flap offered a significant advantage in healing rate.     

Transmetatarsal amputation in patients with peripheral vascular disease.

Transmetatarsal amputation has the reputation of being an operation with a poor healing rate, and less than a 50% success rate had recently been reported. The outcome of this amputation in patients with peripheral vascular disease has been retrospectively studied in this paper by examining 34 transmetatarsal amputations performed over a 5-year period. Twelve patients had had previous toe amputations and 22 were diabetic with an overall healing rate of 68%. There was no significant difference in the success rate between diabetics and non-diabetics. One patient died in the postoperative period, giving an early post-operative mortality of 3%. Revision of failed transmetatarsal below-knee amputation resulted in healing in seven patients out of nine, suggesting that it does not compromise later amputation at a higher level. Healing did not appear to be influenced by factors such as sympathectomy, previous arterial reconstruction or peripheral pulses. Transmetatarsal amputation provides patients who have a short life expectancy with a durable functional stump which is prosthesis free.     

膝周围恶性肿瘤的保肢手术治疗

目的为膝周围恶性肿瘤保留肢体寻求更好的治疗方法和较理想的效果。方法1989年1月～2001年12月对42例膝周围恶性肿瘤行保肢手术治疗，37例获随访。其中男19例，女18例。年龄12～46岁。经病理检查证实为骨肉瘤11例，滑膜肉瘤4例，恶性纤维组织细胞瘤3例，骨巨细胞瘤19例。除骨巨细胞瘤外，余18例术前均行1～2个疗程的新辅助化疗。行假体置换术、异体骨块移植术、骨水泥阿霉素充填术等，术后辅以化疗。术后参照Enneking肢体肌肉骨骼肿瘤外科治疗重建术后功能评估标准进行评价。结果37例获随访3～11年，平均5．6年。2例分别于术后3、4年肿瘤复发远处转移死亡；1例因肿瘤局部复发而行截肢术；1例因术前放疗，保肢术后伤口发生坏死并感染而行截肢术；2例对异体大块骨移植产生排斥反应致伤口窦道形成而行截肢手术。31例伤口愈合良好，按Enneking肢体肌肉骨骼肿瘤外科治疗重建术后功能评估标准进行评定，优7例，良14例，中10例，差6例。结论膝周围恶性肿瘤的早期诊断、手术适应证的掌握、手术方法的选择以及手术前后的化疗或放疗是达到理想疗效的关键。     

The value of stump split skin grafting following amputation for trauma in adult upper and lower limb amputees

One hundred and twenty adult patients were reviewed in whom split skin grafts were applied to the stump following traumatic amputation of the upper limb (44 amputees) or lower limb (76 amputees). The average follow-up period was seven and a half years after initial amputation. There was delay in prosthetic fitting in all patients. Approximately one third of patients complained of occasional minor ulceration, controlled by removing the prosthesis for a few days or modification of the prosthesis. Further revision surgery, including excision of the grafted skin often combined with proximal bone resection, but not removal of the proximal joint, was necessary in 29% of below-elbow amputees and approximately 50% of below and above-knee amputees. At the above-elbow level, use of skin grafts allowed prosthetic fitting because of preservation of sufficient length of the stump. Despite the fact that revision surgery may often be necessary, split skin grafting has a definite place in the early management of the stump following traumatic limb amputation in the adult. Preservation of stump length with the knee or elbow joint allows easier rehabilitation and lower energy expenditure when using the prosthesis. Partial foot amputation, when combined with skin grafting usually requires subsequent revision to a more proximal level to obtain a satisfactory result.     

Implantation of hemipelvic prosthesis after resection of sarcoma

Twelve adult patients with pelvic sarcoma had implantation of a hemipelvic prosthesis. Eight patients had hemipelvic resection, and four patients had acetabulopubic resection. The implanted prosthesis was a special Vitallium prosthesis, which was specially designed for each patient with the aid of a computer. At a median followup of 57 months, eight patients were free of disease. In four patients with local relapse, two had additional resection, one had hindquarter amputation, and one was observed. In three patients with deep infection, the prosthesis was removed; however, one patient had hindquarter amputation. One patient had dislocation of the hip and prosthesis loosening. Overall survival of patients was 70%, and the survival of prostheses was 42%. In eight patients, the functional evaluation showed that the average functional score with the prosthesis was 11.6 (39%) and without the prosthesis the functional score was 7.0 (23%). Implantation of a megaprosthesis seems to indicate a high complication rate and a poor functional result after hemipelvic resection.     

The value of the Syme amputation in selected cases of diabetic foot]

The aim of this paper was to assess the surgical and functional results of Syme's amputation in patients with infected necrosis of the fore- and midfoot caused by diabetes. The material consisted of 5 patients (4 men) age ranging from 44 to 78 years. No stump healing was achieved in a 44 year old man with arteriosclerosis who did not agree to a higher amputation. Prostheses were implemented in patients whose wounds healed 3-6 weeks after surgery. Follow-up period ranged from 2 to 6 years. Three patients died 4-5.5 years after surgery. One patient (equipped with a prosthesis) was observed for a period of 2 years, after which she gave up further medical care. One patients is doing well and using his prosthesis 6 years after surgery. In selected cases of diabetic foot, the Syme's amputation is a useful method of treatment, both from a surgical and functional aspect.     

The role of limb salvage surgery and custom mega prosthesis in multiple myeloma

Nine patients with multiple myeloma underwent limb salvage surgery and custom megaprosthesis replacement for tumours involving long bones. The lower limb was commonly involved with an average age of 47.7 years at presentation. All patients had pathological fractures. Resection and reconstruction was done using custom megaprostheses. A proximal femoral prosthesis was used for proximal femoral tumours and an intercalary prosthesis for tumours involving the femoral shaft. One patient each had total femoral prosthesis and total knee prosthesis. With an average follow-up of 88.2 months, three patients died of their disease. One patient with total knee prosthesis had delayed deep infection requiring removal of the prosthesis and another patient with an intercalary prosthesis had a periprosthetic fracture and declined revision surgery. Radiological evidence of loosening was seen in one patient. The functional outcome was excellent in 3 and good in 3 patients. The 5-year Kaplan-Meier survival rate of the patients was 66.7%.     

Psychologic testing in amputation rehabilitation

Sixty adult patients had psychologic testing following successful below- or above-knee amputation surgery. All were considered to be prosthetic candidates based on the evaluation of an experienced multidisciplinary rehabilitation team. Objective psychologic testing revealed that six (10%) had severe deficits in cognitive ability, eight (13%) had covert psychiatric illness, and three (5%) had both. A vigorous attempt at prosthetic limb fitting and gait training was made in every patient in an inpatient rehabilitation unit. Of the 17 patients (28%) who were determined to be poor candidates for prosthetic limb fitting and gait training based on objective psychologic testing, only four (6%) were capable of even minimal use of the prosthesis, and none approached their preamputation level of ambulation. Psychologic testing may play an important role in determining the rehabilitation potential of the dysvascular amputee.     

REPLACEMENT OF THE PROXIMAL HUMERUS IN PRIMARY BONE TUMOURS

Background: Primary bone tumours have traditionally been treated by forequarter amputation. However, recent limb salvage techniques have become available which are comparable for tumour control and preserve a useful distal limb. This report describes the use of the Huckstep ceramic shoulder with ceramic spacers, non-vascularized fibular grafts and Huckstep nail with ceramic spacers. Methods: Three techniques are described for the reconstruction of the humerus following primary tumour excision. The seven primary bone tumours in this series included three patients with osteosarcoma, two with chondrosarcoma, one with fibrosarcoma and one with an aneurysmal bone cyst. The mean age of the four males and three females was 27 years (range 18–57). Mean follow up was 8.8 years (range 1–18). The techniques used were the Huckstep ceramic shoulder prosthesis with spacers (three cases), non-vascularized fibular grafts (three cases) and the Huckstep nail with ceramic spacers (one case). Results: One fibular graft required supplementary bone grafting and one patient with a shoulder prosthesis died of metastatic disease. The other five patients are well with a good range of shoulder abduction and external rotation. Conclusions: Limb salvage surgery of the upper limb is possible. Deltoid, rotator cuff and radial nerve functions can be preserved.     

肿瘤型人工关节重建下肢骨肉瘤切除后的骨缺损

目的总结应用肿瘤型人工关节重建下肢骨肉瘤切除后骨缺损的效果及并发症。方法1997年7月~2004年7月共对167例下肢骨肉瘤实施广泛性切除后人工假体重建保肢术,100例获得随访。其中男56例,女44例。年龄13~57岁。股骨近端5例,股骨远端57例,胫骨近端38例。Enneking分期A期3例,B期85例,期12例。使用国产假体71例,进口假体29例。17例患者采用灭活肿瘤骨结合人工假体复合重建缺损,21例采用异体骨人工关节复合体,余62例采用人工假体进行重建。所有成骨肉瘤患者术前均行1~2个疗程规范化疗,术后3~5个疗程化疗。术后采用MSTS保肢评分系统对随访患者进行功能评价。结果所有患者获随访1~8年,中位随访时间3.5年。人工关节3年生存率为81.8%,5年生存率为65%。6例假体折断,13例假体迟发性感染,2例假体松动,5例移植物与宿主骨接合处不愈合,2例异体骨吸收,2例假体下沉,1例骨折。7例于术后6个月~2年内肿瘤局部复发,其中软组织肿瘤复发4例,接受肿瘤再切除治疗;另3例接受截肢手术。患者MSTS评分平均为23.30±5.17。肢体功能优62例,良27例,中7例,差4例,优良率为89%。结论与其他保肢重建方法比较,肿瘤型人工关节能保留最好的关节功能。但并发症发生率仍较高,人工关节的设计及加工有待于进一步改进。     

Venous reconstructions in lower limbs associated with resection of malignancies

BACKGROUND: Patients with tumors in the limbs who undergo surgical treatment may have involvement of major vessels. Major arteries are always reconstructed for limb salvage. Major veins may be reconstructed to avoid the onset of venous hypertension signs and symptoms. The objective of this study was to analyze the results from surgical treatment of a sample of patients who underwent lower limb venous reconstructions associated with the resection of malignant tumors. METHODS: Follow-up was performed of 17 patients with malignant tumors involving major vessels in the lower limbs. The median length of follow-up was 22 months. Venous reconstruction concomitant to arterial reconstruction was performed in 15 patients, and an isolated venous reconstruction was performed in 2 patients. The venous substitutes used were the contralateral long saphenous vein (n = 12), expanded polytetrafluoroethylene prosthesis (n = 3), and Dacron prosthesis (n = 2). RESULTS: Vascular complications occurred in seven patients: three occlusions of the venous graft, edema in seven patients, and one rupture of the arterial graft. The primary 2- and 5-year patency rates of venous reconstructions were 79.3% and 79.3%, respectively. Nonvascular complications occurred in six patients: neurological deficit (n = 3), partial necrosis of the flap (n = 2), wound infection (n = 1), hematoma (n = 1), and enteric fistula (n = 1). Eight patients were still alive and disease free, although one of them underwent above-knee amputation as a result of local disease recurrence. One patient experienced regional disease recurrence and is undergoing chemotherapy. Eight patients died due to pulmonary metastases. The 2- and 5-year overall survival rates were 58.6% and 42.4%, respectively. The 2- and 5-year thrombosis-free survival rates were 51.9% and 35.2%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Lower limb venous reconstructions associated with tumor resection in this study gave good functional results, although the prognosis for these patients had been unfavorable. The saphenous vein is a suitable substitute.     

Clinical effectiveness of hemipelvic reconstruction using computer-aided custom-made prostheses after resection of malignant pelvic tumors

This is a retrospective analysis of 16 patients with primary malignant pelvic tumors who underwent wide resection of the hemipelvis and consequent reconstruction between 2003 and 2007. Mean patient age was 27 years, whereas median follow-up was 36 months (range, 23-62 months). Hemipelvic prostheses were individually designed for each patient based on preoperative computed tomographic scans and consequent surgical modeling. The 3-year prosthesis survival rate was 69%. There were 3 cases of local recurrence (19%), and 4 patients died because of pulmonary metastases. The mean follow-up Musculoskeletal Tumor Society functional score was 72%. In conclusion, computer-aided custom-made hemipelvic prosthesis can be applied to quickly and effectively restore the bone defect after internal hemipelvectomy for treatment of pelvic tumors.     

The "flap-shaft" prosthesis for insensate feet with Chopart or Lisfranc amputations

BACKGROUND: The inevitable detachment of tendons and the loss of the forefoot in Chopart and Lisfranc amputations result in equinus and varus of the residual foot. In an insensate foot these deformities can lead to keratotic lesions and ulcerations. The currently available prostheses cannot safely counteract the deforming forces and the resulting complications. METHODS: A new below-knee prosthesis was developed, combining a soft socket with a rigid shaft. The mold is taken with the foot in the corrected position. After manufacturing the shaft, the lateral third of the circumference of the shaft is cut away and reattached distally with a hinge, creating a lateral flap. By closing this flap the hindfoot is gently levered from the varus position into valgus. Ten patients (seven amputations at the Chopart-level, three amputations at the Lisfranc-level) with insensate feet were fitted with this prosthesis at an average of 3 (range 1.5 to 9) months after amputation. The handling, comfort, time of daily use, mobility, correction of malposition and complications were recorded to the latest followup (average 31 months, range 24 to 37 months after amputation). RESULTS: Eight patients evaluated the handling as easy, two as difficult. No patient felt discomfort in the prosthesis. The average time of daily use was 12 hours, and all patients were able to walk. All varus deformities were corrected in the prosthesis. Sagittal alignment was kept neutral. Complications were two minor skin lesions and one small ulcer, all of which responded to conservative treatment, and one ulcer healed after debridement and lengthening of the Achilles tendon. CONCLUSIONS: The "flap-shaft" prosthesis is a valuable option for primary or secondary prosthetic fitting of Chopart-level and Lisfranc-level amputees with insensate feet and flexible equinus and varus deformity at risk for recurrent ulceration. It provided safe and sufficient correction of malpositions and enabled the patients to walk as much as their general condition permitted.     

Exo-Prothesenregister

Background

The establishment of a database to document healthcare of lower limb amputees constitutes a medical necessity. Although various medical specialties perform amputations, the standardization of treatment strategies from amputation to fitting a prosthesis has to be optimized.

Material and methods

From August 2013 to August 2017 clinical data of lower limb amputees were prospectively recorded in our database. A medical and prosthetic documentation and a patient-based questionnaire were used to evaluate data with respect to the amputation, stump conditions, range of motion and strength and the status of the prosthesis.

Results

Analysis of 257 lower limb amputees showed that 232 (90%) patients had a major and 25 (10%) a minor amputation, mostly due to an accident, infection, sepsis and circulatory disorders. Overall 182 (71%) patients had a prosthesis, 42 (16%) had no prosthesis and in 33 (13%) patients no information was provided. Although 23% of the 182 patients had a prosthesis fitted, they were not able to use the prosthesis due to stump problems or inadequate fitting.

Conclusion

The implementation of the amputation register and of a preoperative interdisciplinary board contribute to optimized treatment strategies and a faster reintegration into employment and normal activities of daily life. A multicentric distibution with interclinical possibilities of comparison can help to define interdisciplinary standards and quality characteristics.