Body image and self-esteem in lower-limb amputees.

Background: Limb amputation is often an inevitable procedure in the advanced condition of various diseases and poses a dramatic impact on a patient's life. The aim of the present study is to analyze the impact of lower-limb amputations on aesthetic factors such as body image and self-esteem as well as quality of life (QoL).

Methods: 298 patients (149 uni- or bilateral lower-limb amputees and 149 controls) were included in this cross-sectional study in three centers.

The effect of a flexible pylon system on functional mobility of transtibial amputees. A prospective randomized study.

Background: Prosthetic component selection strongly influences the functional mobility of transtibial amputees. Until now, little attention has been paid to the connection between the prosthetic socket and the foot component.

Aim And Design: Aim of this study was to compare a novel flexible with a conventional rigid pylon system in a prospective randomized trial in transtibial amputees to determine effects on gait and mobility.

Reproductive factors and lower extremity arterial occlusive disease in women.

Background: Reproductive variables affecting sexual hormone levels seem to be significant for atherosclerosis, a major cause of morbidity of the vessels of the lower extremities such as lower extremity arterial occlusive disease (LEAOD). We quantify a direct relationship between reproductive variables including age at regular and premature menopause and the incidence of severe LEAOD among post-menopausal women.

Methods And Results: Questionnaires were administered to 269 female amputees with LEAOD, 224 patients who underwent total joint replacement due to osteoarthritis and 88 healthy women.

Coping with amputation and phantom limb pain.

Phantom limb pain is a common, distressing phenomenon that can occur after the amputation or denervation of a part of the body. No conclusive etiological models or theories have emerged, although the problem was identified some time ago. This empirical-diagnostic study deals with correlations between coping with limb loss, body image, and the occurrence of phantom limb pain.

Silicone soft socket system: its effect on the rehabilitation of geriatric patients with transfemoral amputations.

Objective: To report the effect of supplying new transfemoral amputee patients with a prosthesis with a silicone suspension/interface system.

Patients And Design: Fifty-eight new transfemoral amputee patients were supplied with a contoured adducted trochanteric-controlled alignment method (CAT-CAM) socket (CCS) with a silicone suspension/interface system. This system is called the Icelandic roll-on silicone socket, or the ICEROSS system (IRS).