Pregnancy After Amputation: A Systematic Review of Pregnancy Experiences for Women With Lower Extremity Amputations.

Pregnancy could affect the mobility of women with lower extremity limb loss, deficiency, or amputations. The aim of this systematic review was to characterize the pregnancy-related experiences, including prosthesis, gait aid, and mobility outcomes, of women with lower extremity limb loss, deficiency, or amputations. MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Embase databases were searched for all relevant English-language articles describing pregnancy experiences of women with lower extremity limb loss, deficiency, or amputations.

Walking while talking: validation in older adults with lower-limb amputation.

Background: Walking while talking (WWT) is a dual-task (cognitive and motor) performance test that has not yet been validated in older adults with lower-limb amputation (LLA). WWT is composed of two sections: WWT-simple (walking while reciting every letter of the alphabet) and WWT-complex (walking while reciting every other letter of the alphabet).

Objective: To determine the validity, and provide normative data and a new scoring system for the WWT test in older adults with LLA.

Rehabilitation outcomes after major lower limb amputation in the oldest old: a systematic review.

Background: Because the population grows older and the burden of chronic disease increases, many individuals will undergo major lower limb amputation (LLA) at advanced ages. There is a scarcity of literature focusing on the outcomes of rehabilitation for people who acquire LLA at 80 years of age and older.

Objectives: To determine the scope of empirical evidence regarding prosthetic rehabilitation for newly acquired LLA in the oldest old (≥80 years of age).

Validity of measures for life space mobility and physical activity in older adults with lower-limb amputation.

Background: Older adults with lower-limb amputations (LLAs) often experience lack of confidence and poor balance, which limits their mobility. There are few validated measures for assessing these outcomes in the LLA population.

Objectives: To assess the validity of the Life Space Assessment (LSA) and the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) for older adults with LLA.

Potential of Timed 25-Foot Walk Values in Predicting Maximum Walking Distance in Persons with Multiple Sclerosis.

Background: Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores of 4.0 or greater are determined primarily by maximum walking distance (MWD). Estimation of MWD by persons with multiple sclerosis (MS) is often used due to the impracticality of formally walking a person with MS in a clinic setting.

Risk Factors for Falls in Individuals With Lower Extremity Amputations During the Pre-Prosthetic Phase: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Falls in individuals with lower limb amputations (LLAs) pose significant health concerns. The literature is limited regarding falls during the preprosthetic phase of rehabilitation for persons with LLAs.

Objective: To determine the incidence of falls and identify factors associated with falls during the preprosthetic recovery phase.

Relationship between body image and physical functioning following rehabilitation for lower-limb amputation.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate change in body image and the association between body image at discharge and mobility 4 months after rehabilitation. A prospective cohort comprising adults older than or equal to 50 years of age undergoing rehabilitation for first major lower-limb amputation at an inpatient prosthetic rehabilitation program were assessed at discharge and 4 months after rehabilitation. Paired t-tests compared total Amputee Body Image Scale (ABIS), gait velocity, and L-test scores between discharge (T1) and 4 months (T2).

Comparing the Effects of Dual-Task Gait Testing in New and Established Ambulators With Lower Extremity Amputations.

Background: Gait is a complex process that involves coordinating motor and sensory systems through higher-order cognitive processes. Walking with a prosthesis after lower extremity amputation challenges these processes. However, the factors that influence the cognitive-motor interaction in gait among lower extremity amputees has not been evaluated.

Dual-task related gait changes in individuals with trans-tibial lower extremity amputation.

Background: The improvement of gait and mobility are major rehabilitation goals following lower extremity amputations. However, when living in the community many daily activities require the multitasking of motor and cognitive tasks. The dual-task paradigm can be used to evaluate the concurrent performance of mobility and cognitive tasks.

Self-reported maximum walking distance in persons with MS may affect the EDSS.

Background: In persons with MS (PwMS), the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) is used to monitor disability progression. Scores between 4.0 and 7.

Peer assessment in the objective structured clinical examination: A scoping review.

Background: The objective structured clinical examination (OSCE), originally designed with experts assessing trainees' competence, is more frequently employed with an element of peer assessment and feedback. Although peer assessment in higher education has been studied, its role in OSCEs has not reviewed.

Aims: The aim of this study is to conduct a scoping review and explore the role of peer assessment and feedback in the OSCE.

Impact of Course Configuration on 6-Minute Walk Test Performance of People with Lower Extremity Amputations.

The configuration of the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) may influence the distance walked and comparability of results among subjects and across programmes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relative and absolute test-retest reliability of two 6MWT configurations and to evaluate the agreement between these two configurations in users of lower extremity prosthetics. A cross-sectional design was used to analyze data from 25 subjects completing in-patient prosthetic rehabilitation (mean age 63.

Barriers to outcome measure administration and completion at discharge from inpatient rehabilitation of people with amputation.

We performed a retrospective chart review of consecutive patients discharged from an inpatient amputee rehabilitation program over a 2 yr period (January 2010-December 2011). Our objective was to determine barriers to the completion of a standardized maximum walk test (MWT) at discharge. Over the study period, there were 190 discharges.

Use of calcitonin in recalcitrant phantom limb pain complicated by heterotopic ossification.

Background: Phantom limb pain (PLP) is a common complication after amputation, affecting up to 80% of the amputee population. However, only 5% to 10% of amputees have severe PLP impacting daily function. The present report details the management of severe, treatment-resistant PLP in a 72-year-old man with a traumatic left transradial amputation and a comorbid complication of heterotopic ossification (HO).

Anatomy of the proximal tibiofibular joint and interosseous membrane, and their contributions to joint kinematics in below-knee amputations.

A result of below-knee amputations (BKAs) is abnormal motion that occurs about the proximal tibiofibular joint (PTFJ). While it is known that joint morphology may play a role in joint kinematics, this is not well understood with respect to the PTFJ. Therefore, the purposes of this study were: (i) to characterize the anatomy of the PTFJ and statistically analyze the relationships within the joint; and (ii) to determine the relationships between the PTFJ characteristics and the degree of movement of the fibula in BKAs.

Low vitamin B12 in patients on admission to an amputation rehabilitation unit: a retrospective study.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of low vitamin B12 (VB12) in patients on admission to an amputation rehabilitation unit and identify specific populations at risk.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed for 127 participants comprising patients with major lower limb amputations admitted to a regional amputation rehabilitation program between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2012. Electronic medical records were reviewed for demographic data, amputation data, medication history, serum VB12 levels, and other related blood work.

In vitro biomechanical evaluation of fibular movement in below knee amputations.

Background: In below knee amputations, the remaining fibula may be subjected to abnormal forces resulting in problematic tibia-fibular movement. The purpose of the current work was to examine the effect of amputation length and interosseous membrane integrity on fibular movement when subjected to unopposed biceps femoris muscle tension.

Methods: Forty embalmed cadaveric specimens were subjected to a below knee amputation with fibular lengths of 5cm and 10cm.

Comorbidities in amputation: a systematic review of hemiplegia and lower limb amputation.

Purpose: The purpose of this review of the scientific literature was to investigate the incidence and prevalence of hemiplegia with lower limb amputation, and to identify outcomes following the dual disability of hemiplegia and amputation.

Methods: Electronic searching of the literature identified major studies examining the effects of hemiplegia on rehabilitation following amputation. Data were extracted and levels of evidence assigned for each subtopic area.

Anemia of immobility: caused by adipocyte accumulation in bone marrow.

Anemia of chronic disease has long been used to classify a non-regenerative, low-grade, chronic, normocytic, normochromic anemia that presents with no obvious etiology. Within this group, some patients have a chronic inflammatory condition that limits erythrocyte generation or access to iron stores. This specific type of anemia has been termed anemia of chronic inflammation.

Space flight rehabilitation.

The weightless environment of space imposes specific physiologic adaptations on healthy astronauts. On return to Earth, these adaptations manifest as physical impairments that necessitate a period of rehabilitation. Physiologic changes result from unloading in microgravity and highly correlate with those seen in relatively immobile terrestrial patient populations such as spinal cord, geriatric, or deconditioned bed-rest patients.

Peripheral nerve injury associated with shoulder trauma: a retrospective study and review of the literature.

Purpose: To determine the incidence of peripheral nerve injury in patients referred to an electrodiagnostic laboratory with a history of shoulder trauma. The characteristics of those presenting with the triad of shoulder dislocation, peripheral nerve injury, and rotator cuff tear were further examined.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of all patients referred to our electrodiagnostic laboratory over a 17-month period.