CLINICAL REHABILITATION OF THE AMPUTEE - A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY

The aim of this study was to determine the rehabilitation outcome of l ower limb amputee patients after clinical rehabilitation. Altogether 1 83 amputee patients admitted for clinical rehabilitation in the years 1987-1991 were reviewed by retrospective analysis of medical record da ta. Three groups of amputee patients were identified by reason For amp utation, The vascular group: (N = 132), mean age 67 years, mean admiss ion time 119 days, 85% prosthetic fitting. The oncology group (N = 15) , mean age 55 years, mean admission time 77 days, 60% prosthetic fitti ng. The traumatic amputee group: (N = 14), mean age 41 years, mean sta y 134 days and 100% prosthetic fitting, Some 22 patients were bilatera l amputees and were assessed separately. The most important reasons fo r not fitting a prosthesis were oncological metastases, stump and woun d healing problems. After rehabilitation 86% of all patients could be discharged home. These results are more favourable than those seen in previous studies.