THE LONG-TERM OUTCOME OF UPPER-LIMB AMPUTEES TREATED AT A REHABILITATION CENTER IN SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA

A follow-up study by questionnaire or interview has been made of the 2 7 respondents of 41 upper limb amputees (66%) treated at the Royal Sou th Sydney Hospital between 1981 and 1990. Prosthetic use of 8 h/day or more was 37% and occasional use was 18.5%. The prosthetic users were more likely to be distal amputees. The reason for the low level of pro sthetic use is not known. The majority of non-users discarded prosthes es after leaving their rehabilitation programme. Occupational changes were made by 72% of the amputees. The unemployment rate at follow-up w as similar to the rest of the community, which is a better outcome tha n 25 years ago. Activities of daily living had been affected in all pa tients, but to a lesser extent in prosthetic users. Leisure pursuits w ere changed in 70% of patients, with these activities being more seden tary and indoor in nature. Of the 18 car drivers, 15 drove automatic c ars with modifications. Phantom pain was experienced by 16 of the resp ondents (59%) and stump pain was experienced by seven. Only 26% used m edication or alcohol for the pain. Pain did not affect prosthetic use or functional ability.