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THE USE OF AIR SPLINTS AS IMMEDIATE PROSTHESES AFTER BELOW‐KNEE AMPUTATION FOR VASCULAR INSUFFICIENCY
Author(s) -
Little J. M.
Publication year - 1970
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1970.tb63234.x
Subject(s) - splint (medicine) , medicine , amputation , splints , weight bearing , prosthesis , strapping , rehabilitation , physical therapy , surgery , physical medicine and rehabilitation , orthodontics , engineering , mechanical engineering
A method is described for using a long leg air splint as an immediate, partial weight‐bearing prosthesis after below‐knee amputation. While full walking is not possible with the current design, balancing and gait training can begin in a walking frame within a few days of operation, and assisted walking is possible provided that weight bearing on the splint is limited. The technique is particularly simple, and can be implemented by a ward physiotherapist without the help of the expert staff needed for the conventional rigid immediate prosthesis. Pain has not been a major problem, and it would seem that modification of the splint will allow a greater degree of weight bearing and assisted walking. Patient morale has been high, wound healing has been good and rehabilitation has been rapid in this small group of disabled and debilitated patients. Sweating beneath the splint has been a nuisance at times. The splint inflation pressure needs monitoring, because pressure necrosis of the skin of the amputation stump is a possibility if the pressure is too high.