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REHABILITATION OF GERIATRIC AMPUTEES
Author(s) -
Cheek Richard C.,
Britt Louis G.
Publication year - 1969
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1969.tb02350.x
Subject(s) - medicine , rehabilitation , prosthesis , muscle contracture , physical therapy , amputation , weakness , dementia , wheelchair , gangrene , disease , physical medicine and rehabilitation , surgery , pathology , world wide web , computer science
A bstract The study group comprised 60 indigent patients (average age, 70) in a public hospital who had undergone amputations of the lower extremity, chiefly because of gangrene. These patients sought aid only in the last stages of disease, and meanwhile they neglected personal hygiene. There were 10 deaths. The most common contraindications for the use of a prosthesis were chronic brain syndrome (dementia) and muscle weakness or contractures. Of the 60 patients, 22 were considered to be candidates for prostheses, and 5 of these were lost to follow‐up. Thus only 17 potential candidates underwent preprosthetic training, for maximal ability. Eight of the 17 ultimately, because of contraindications, had to be content with crutches or a wheelchair. In the other 9 cases, however, prostheses were successful. Recommendations regarding the management of such patients in a large public hospital include: 1) continuity of management by having the amputee under the supervision of the same physician(s) throughout his course; 2) a series of lectures for the house staff on the rehabilitation of amputees; and 3) a definite protocol for the immediate fitting of a prosthesis in suitable cases.