PROSTHETIC HISTORY, PROSTHETIC CHARGES, AND FUNCTIONAL OUTCOME OF THEISOLATED, TRAUMATIC BELOW-KNEE AMPUTEE

Purpose: To review the prosthetic history, prosthetic charges, and fun ctional status of traumatic, isolated, unilateral below-knee amputees at select intervals following amputation. Methods: This descriptive st udy was conducted among patients admitted to Harborview Medical Center between 1980 and 1987, who survived initial trauma, and who required an isolated, below-knee amputation. Hospital and prosthetist records w ere abstracted to calculate the number of prostheses fabricated and th e prosthetic charges since initial amputation. Functional outcomes wer e determined by personal interview and self-administration of the SF-3 6 Health Status Profile. Results: The average age of patients was 36 w ith the age range extending from 19 to 59 years. The prosthetic histor y and prosthetic charges were determined from the medical record and t he billing records of the prosthetist. Exact charges were determined f or 15 of the 20 patients. During the first 3 years, the mean number of prostheses acquired per patient was 3.4 (range 1-5), with average tot al prosthetic charges of $10,829 (range $2,558-$15,700). Over the firs t 5 years the mean number of prostheses acquired per patient was 4.4 ( range 2-8), with average total prosthetic charges of $13,945 (range $6 ,203-$20,070). The SF-36 Health Status Profile scores were significant ly decreased from published normal aged-matched scores in the categori es of physical function and role limitations because of physical healt h problems and pain. Scores were not significantly different from publ ished normal aged-matched scores in the other five categories: role li mitations due to emotional problems, social functioning, mental health , energy/fatigue, and health perception.