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[Utilization of prosthesis in patients who underwent below-knee amputation].

BACKGROUND
Thirty-two patients, among them 25 men (78.1%) and 7 women (21.9%), underwent surgery for below-knee amputation at the Western Galilee hospital, Nahariya, received a prosthesis and began rehabilitation treatment at the same hospital. Of these, 27 patients--21 men (77.8%) and 6 women (22.8%) responded to the authors request to complete the questionnaire. Four of these underwent bilateral below-knee amputation. The authors had no previous information about routine use of prosthesis after the termination of the rehabilitation process.


METHODS
All patients who underwent a below-knee amputation between the years 2000 and 2004 and received a prosthesis thereafter, were surveyed. Each one was asked to complete a detailed questionnaire. The patients were asked about the use of prosthesis during daily activities, their mobility inside and outside the home, the possibility of returning to work, the influence on their social activity, the various complications caused by the prosthesis, the use of a walking aid, their ability to drive a car or to use public transport, and their ability to accomplish some physical tasks. The questionnaire included information about the patient's age, sex, level of education, civil status and familial support, in order to evaluate their influence on the use of the prosthesis.


RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS
The statistically significant results were all dependent upon the amputee's age. With an increase in age, the patient wears the prosthesis fewer hours per day inside and outside the home, has difficulty in walking quickly, tires earlier while walking and has a reduced quality of life.