UPPER-LIMB TRAUMATIC AMPUTEES - REVIEW OF PROSTHETIC USE

The prosthetic status of the traumatic upper limb amputees was reviewe d. Fifty-five upper limb amputees were reviewed using a detailed quest ionnaire, telephone or clinic review and by case note study. Twenty-th ree patients were traumatic amputees and 32 were congenital amputees. The amputees' function, prosthetic use and satisfaction were evaluated and this formed the basis of a scoring system. The traumatic group we re less satisfied with their prosthesis and their functional ability w as poorer, especially in the use of the myoelectric prosthesis, Trauma tic amputees wore their prosthesis for an average of 6.5 hours per day compared to 9.3 hours in the atraumatic group. None of the traumatic amputees fitted after 12 weeks returned to gainful employment. Early p rosthetic fitting, rehabilitation and post-traumatic counselling are a dvocated in upper limb traumatic amputees in order to achieve an optim um prosthetic benefit for the patient.