Cardiorespiratory fitness in persons with lower limb amputation.

The aim of this study is to gain insight in the cardiorespiratory fitness of persons with lower limb amputation (LLA) during rehabilitation, and in potential factors influencing their cardiorespiratory fitness. We performed a retrospective cohort study using data from cardiopulmonary exercise tests. Included participants were adults with LLA.

Perceptions, Experiences, Barriers and Facilitators Regarding Nutritional Intake of Patients with Chronic Limb Threatening Ischemia: A Qualitative Study.

Background: Patients with chronic limb threatening ischemia (CLTI) are at high risk for amputation and other cardiovascular adverse events. Nutrition-related symptoms and malnutrition are common in the CLTI population, and lead to worse clinical outcomes. Understanding of the factors influencing nutritional intake is required to determine whether optimization of nutritional intake in this population requires interventions.

Surgical Techniques of, and Outcomes after, Distal Muscle Stabilization in Transfemoral Amputation: A Systematic Review and Narrative Synthesis.

Background: Distal muscle stabilization, such as myodesis (suturing muscles to bone) or myoplasty (suturing agonistic-antagonistic muscles together), can aid residual limb stabilization, provide a good soft-tissue covering, and increase rehabilitation potential. However, surgical practice varies due to scant clinical data. The aim of this review is to summarize and evaluate the literature regarding techniques and associated outcomes of distal muscle stabilization in transfemoral amputation (TFA).

LONG-STANDING COMPLEX REGIONAL PAIN SYNDROME-TYPE I: PERSPECTIVES OF PATIENTS NOT AMPUTATED.

Objective: Complex Regional Pain Syndrome type I (CRPS-I) is an often intractable regional pain syndrome, usually affecting limbs in which amputation may be a final resort. Not all patients are suited for amputation.This retrospective case series with explorative interviews aims to gain insight in the quality of life in those who have been denied an amputation and their functioning with CRPS-I.

A scoping review on nutritional intake and nutritional status in people with a major dysvascular lower limb amputation.

Purpose: To systematically review literature on nutritional intake, nutritional status and nutritional interventions, and to study their association with short- and long-term clinical outcomes in people with a major dysvascular lower limb amputation.

Methods: PubMed, Ovid, CINAHL, and The Cochrane Library were searched. Studies were included if nutritional intake, nutritional status, or nutritional interventions in people with a major dysvascular lower limb amputation were analyzed.

User-relevant factors influencing the prosthesis use of persons with a transfemoral amputation or knee-disarticulation: A meta-synthesis of qualitative literature and focus group results.

Objective: Persons with a transfemoral amputation or knee-disarticulation are heavily reliant on an adequate set of components for their prosthesis. To improve the process of adjusting the specific prosthetic properties to the expectations of the prosthesis users, it is of importance to first identify which factors have an influence on prosthesis use. Therefore, we aimed to identify factors that influence prosthesis use in adults with a transfemoral amputation or knee-disarticulation.

Functional recovery after reduced pediatric fractures of the forearm with respect to perceived limitations, common post-traumatic symptoms, range of motion, and dexterity: a prospective study.

Purpose: Studies on functional recovery after pediatric forearm fractures are scarce. Outcome measures are usually (retrospectively) incorporated to compare treatments. How these parameters recover has only rarely fallen within the scope.

Amputation and prosthetics of the lower extremity: The 2020 Dutch evidence-based multidisciplinary guideline.

Background: Lower-limb amputations are rare but debilitating events in the lives of affected persons. Treatment of persons with amputation inherently involves many different health care professions at different stages leading to and after an amputation. There are prevailing clinical questions within the work field related to different facets of care including peri/postoperative aspects, prosthetic components, rehabilitation treatment, and health care processes.

The Working Alliance Inventory's Measurement Properties: A Systematic Review.

Unlabelled: Measurement properties of the Working Alliance Inventory (WAI) and its various translations and adaptations for specific target groups have been investigated for over 30 years. No systematic review analyzing studies on measurement properties of the WAI has been conducted to date. COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurements INstruments (COSMIN) were developed for conducting high-quality systematic reviews on measurement properties in a transparent and standardized way.

Interobserver and intraobserver reliabilities of determining the ventilatory thresholds in subjects with a lower limb amputation and able-bodied subjects during a peak exercise test on the combined arm-leg (Cruiser) ergometer.

The first (VT1) and second ventilator (VT2) (anaerobic) thresholds are used to individually prescribe exercise training programs. The purpose of this research was to analyze inter- and intraobserver reliabilities of determining VT1 and VT2 in subjects with lower limb amputation (LLA) and able-bodied (AB) subjects during a peak exercise test on the arm-leg (Cruiser) ergometer. Previously published data of exercise tests on the Cruiser ergometer of subjects with LLA ( n = 17) and AB subjects ( n = 30) were analyzed twice by two observers.

Clinical usability, reliability, and repeatability of noncontact scanners in measuring residual limb volume in persons with transtibial amputation.

Background: In previous studies, noncontact 3D scanners were found to be the most reliable in measuring volume of the residual limb after a transtibial amputation (TTA). Meanwhile newly developed noncontact scanners became available to measure residual limb volume after TTA but should be tested for clinical usability and reliability.

Objective: To determine the clinical usability, reliability, and repeatability of noncontact scanners in measuring residual limb volume in persons with a TTA.

Psychological Factors Change During the Rehabilitation of an Achilles Tendon Rupture: A Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study.

Objective: The authors sought to gain insight into the changes in psychological factors during rehabilitation after Achilles tendon rupture (ATR) and to explore the association between psychological factors during rehabilitation and functional outcome 12 months after ATR.

Methods: Fifty patients clinically diagnosed with ATR were invited to visit the hospital 3, 6, and 12 months after injury for data collection. They completed questionnaires assessing psychological factors: psychological readiness to return to sport (Injury Psychological Readiness to Return to Sport Questionnaire); kinesiophobia (Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia); expectations, motivation, and outcome measures related to symptoms and physical activity (Achilles Tendon Total Rupture Score); and sports participation and performance (Oslo Sports Trauma Research Centre Overuse Injury Questionnaire).

Learning self-care skills after spinal cord injury: a qualitative study.

Background: People with a recent spinal cord injury (SCI) often follow intensive rehabilitation. Learning appropriate self-care, deal with their impairments and prevent secondary health conditions (SHCs), is highly important during rehabilitation. To date it is not clear how self-care skills are taught to people with SCI.

The association between body mass index and skin problems in persons with a lower limb amputation: an observational study.

Background: Obesity is common in persons with a lower limb amputation, an amputation can also lead to further weight gain. Data regarding the prevalence of obesity in the Dutch population with a lower limb amputation are lacking. Furthermore, the impact of obesity on skin problems of the residual limb and the need of prosthetic repairs is unknown.

Cycling in people with a lower limb amputation.

Background: To evaluate cycling participation and identify barriers and facilitators related to cycling participation in people with a lower limb amputation (LLA) in the Netherlands.

Methods: A questionnaire was sent to adults with a LLA between March and August 2019 to obtain information regarding prosthesis, individual's characteristics, amputation, cycling barriers and facilitators, and prosthetic satisfaction. The questionnaires were distributed via 8 orthopedic workshops, post and were given directly.

Psychological factors during rehabilitation of patients with Achilles or patellar tendinopathy: a cross-sectional study.

Objective: to examine psychological factors during rehabilitation of patients with Achilles or patellar tendinopathy as well as the association between psychological factors and tendinopathy severity, sport participation, and satisfaction with activity level and tendon function.

Design: cross-sectional study.

Setting: online survey platform.

Participants' unspoken thoughts and feelings negatively influence the therapeutic alliance; a qualitative study in a multidisciplinary pain rehabilitation setting.

Purpose: This study aimed to explore factors that influence participants' perceptions of the therapeutic alliance with healthcare professionals; their participation in the alliance; and their commitment to treatment in a multidisciplinary pain rehabilitation setting.

Materials And Methods: A qualitative research-design was used and 26 participants in a multidisciplinary pain rehabilitation program were interviewed in-depth.

Results: Initially, participants reported to be satisfied with their healthcare professionals.

CHECKLIST USE FOR ASSESSMENT OF SATISFACTION WITH TRANS-TIBIAL PROSTHESES.

Objective: To assess satisfaction of prosthesis users with their prostheses, and the problems they experience with the residual limb, using a checklist, in order to evaluate potential benefits of checklist use and to summarize issues and problems with the prosthesis and/or residual limb presented by prosthesis users.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Subjects: Participants were adult trans-tibial prosthesis users ( = 82) and certified prosthetist orthotist ( = 19) experienced in fitting lower-limb prostheses.

A modified Gritti-Stokes amputation technique as a solution for recurring aseptic loosening of a knee arthroplasty: A single-patient case study.

Case Description: A 56-year-old man with persistent knee pain and poor physical functioning due to recurring loosening of a (revised) total knee arthroplasty, was treated with a modified Gritti-Stokes amputation.

Objectives: to describe the modified Gritti-Stokes amputation technique as an ultimate therapy for failed total knee arthroplasty and to assess the functional outcome for one patient 1 year post-surgery.

Study Design: a single patient case study.

Fitting transtibial and transfemoral prostheses in persons with a severe flexion contracture: problems and solutions - a systematic review.

Purpose: In persons with a hip or knee flexion contracture ≥25°, fitting a prosthesis is said to be difficult. This systematic review aims to assess the evidence for fitting of a prosthesis in persons with a severe contracture (≥25°) after a lower limb amputation.

Method: PubMed, Embase, Scopus, CINAHL, and Orthotics & Prosthetics Virtual Library databases were searched from inception to December 2019, using database specific search terms related to amputation, prosthesis, and contracture.

Enhancing our conceptual understanding of state and trait self-efficacy by correlational analysis of four self-efficacy scales in people with spinal cord injury.

Background: Self-efficacy is an important determinant of adjustment following spinal cord injury. Self-efficacy is defined as the belief that one can successfully execute behavior required to produce the desired outcomes. In its original conceptualization, self-efficacy refers to the confidence that people have in their ability to accomplish specific tasks and behaviors within a specific context.

Pre-operative rehabilitation in lower-limb amputation patients and its effect on post-operative outcomes.

Major lower-limb amputation (LLA) is a life-changing event associated with poor post-operative physical and psychological functioning and decreased quality of life. The general physical condition of most LLA patients prior to surgery is already significantly deteriorated due to chronic peripheral vascular disease often in combination with diabetes. Pre-operative rehabilitation (also called 'pre-rehabilitation') is an increasingly common strategy used in multiple patient populations to improve patients' physical and mental condition prior to surgery, thus aiming at improving the post-operative patient outcomes.