About 21% to 35% of people with limb loss are those who lost their limb at trans-femoral level (i.e. above the knee). The increasing number of diabetes-related limb loss (amputation) and the rising proportion of older adult amputees indicates more amputees with limited mobility in the future. Among other factors, prosthesis success highly depends on the function of the knee joints during daily activities. Presently, there are two categories of prosthetic knee joints; microprocessor-controlled knees (MPKs) and non-microprocessor-controlled knees (n-MPKs). Whilst the n-MPKs are unable to change the knee stiffness, the MPKs alter the joint stiffness and speed of movement according to the users' walking speed. Although past studies indicate that MPKs could result in reduced risk of falls, improved balance and activity in limited mobility amputees, there is a lack of strong evidence on the effect of MPKs on community outcomes. The aim of this study is to compare activity, mobility, social functioning, depression, anxiety, and health-related quality of life in limited mobility trans-femoral or through-knee (i.e. knee disarticulation) amputees who are users of MPKs prosthesis with users of a prosthesis with n-MPKs.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
330
Any type of microprocessor-controlled knee joints will be considered; this includes those controlling stance phase only (e.g. Compact C-Leg), swing phase only (e.g. Smart IP), both swing and stance phases (e.g. Reho knee), or power generating knees (e.g. POWER knee Ossur).
Any non-microprocessor-controlled knee joints such as prosthesis incorporating hydraulic, polycentric, pneumatic mechanisms, friction or locked knees.
Short Form-36 Quality of Life (SF-36)
The SF-36 is a validated generic measure of health-related quality of life consisting of eight scales (physical functioning, bodily pain, role limitations due to physical health problems, role limitations due to personal or emotional problems, emotional well-being, social functioning, energy/fatigue, and general health perceptions).
Time frame: Baseline
Special Interest Group in Amputee Medicine (SIGAM)
SIGAM describe a single-item scale comprising six clinical grades (A -F) of amputee mobility. SIGAM is a self-report questionnaire with 21 dichotomous (Y/N) items and algorithm designed to facilitate grade assignment.
Time frame: Baseline
Prosthetic Evaluation Questionnaire (PEQ); Mobility, Social Burden and Residual Limb Health Subscales.
These scales contain 22 questions (Mobility and transfer, n=13; social burden, n=3, residual limb health, n=6) using the visual analog scales. The PEQ is a valid and reliable measure of the prosthetic related quality of life. It consisted of nine sub-scales, which are not dependent on each other.
Time frame: Baseline
Reintegration to Normal Living Index (RNLI)
RNLI measures the degree to which people with traumatic or incapacitating illness reintegrate into normal social activities (e.g. recreation, movement in the community, and interaction in the family or other relationships). Respondents rate 11 questions on Visual Analogue Scales.
Time frame: Baseline
Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)
The HADS scale is used to measure the level of anxiety and depression a person experiencing. It comprises 14 items on the four-point Likert scale; Seven items on anxiety and seven items on depression.
Time frame: Baseline
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