International Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
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Efficacy of Stubbies in Initial Phase of Rehabilitation for A Woman with Bilateral Transfemoral Amputation-A Case Study

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Introduction

Stubby prostheses offer potential advantages over conventional prosthetic devices in terms of safety, stability, and energy efficiency. In spite of the fact that cosmesis is compromised in the process, these short non-articulated pylon prostheses may be a viable option to consider in bilateral Transfemoral or knee disarticulation amputee patients under the following circumstances: (1) as a training tool to determine whether progression to full-length articulated devices is feasible; (2) as permanent prostheses for the patient whose primary need for ambulation is within his/her own home; (3) for the elderly bilateral amputee in whom ambulation is feasible but safety and energy efficiency are of particular importance; and (4) as a definitive device in the patient who expresses a preference for them [1]. Initially Stubby Prostheses are the best option for bilateral transfemoral amputees as advocated by many author due to following advantages 1) lowered height and centre of gravity, improving safety and reducing the danger of serious falls, 2) eliminated prosthetic knee joint, improving patient stability, 3) long posterior extension of rocker bottom platform to prevent the tendency of the patient to fall backward initially. 4) The shortened anterior portion of rocker bottom platform allows smooth roll over into the push-off phase [1-3].

The primary goal of the study is to evaluate and to compare the VO₂ uptake (Maximum Oxygen Uptake), VCO₂ (Carbon Dioxide Output) and Heart Rate during various level of walking (plane surface and stair climbing) in a bilateral transfemoral amputee utilizing stubby prosthesis with a normal abled body Subject with same age, sex and body weight.

Materials and Methods

The subject was a 24-year-old female, a victim of a railway mishap who sustained traumatic injury to her legs and received bilateral Transfemoral amputations. She was referred for her prosthetic management. Physical examination at admission revealed the right stump length below the ischial tuberosity was 9 cm and the left from ischial tuberosity was 10 cm. The Client’s body weight was 39 kg, and she was in good health condition. There were no such clinical discoveries on both the stump aside from some scar marks at the distal part of the stump. The client was using a wheel chair for her ambulation. After an intensive assessment and evaluation, she was prescribed stubby prosthesis. Stubby prosthesis was fabricated fitted to her. She has undergone training for Donning and Doffing followed by Gait training. This process was continued for a period of about a month (Figures 1-4).

Figure 1: Bilateral transfemoral ampuee on wheel chair.

Figure 2: Bilateral transfemoral amputee.

Figure 3: Balancing on stubbies

Figure 4: Stubby prosthesis.

The data of prosthetic walking was evaluated by cosmed k4b2 metabolic analyzer system (COSMED Srl-Italy) for the measurement of oxygen uptake (VO₂), carbon dioxide output (VCO₂) and heart rate after 4 weeks of successful training at different levels without help of any assistive devices. In first 8 minute data were collected during the patient in walking condition in a plane surface and in another 8 minute data were collected during stair climbing. Data collected during both walking and stair climbing with 30 minutes of rest in between both the tasks (Figures 5-8).

Figure 5: Gait training with stubbies on plane surface.

Figure 6: Stair climbing with stubbies.

Figure 7: Final shape of stubbies

Figure 8: K4b2 system respiratory analyser system.

Result

Result of this case report was analyzed with comparison of the client’s parameters with normal-abled subject parameters. The results of oxygen uptake (VO₂), carbon dioxide output (VCO₂) and Heart rate are summarized in Table 1.

Table 1: The results of oxygen uptake (VO₂), carbon dioxide output (VCO₂) and heart rate

The result of the present case report shows that no doubt there is a more energy expenditure in all the level of surfaces compared to the normal subject however there is no such difference with the client because of the activeness of the client. During walking in plane surface it was found that the VO₂ uptake rate in bilateral trans-femoral amputee was 46% higher than the normal able bodied, similarly during stair climbing, VO₂ uptake rate in bilateral trans-femoral amputee was 62% higher than the normal able bodied. Similarly carbon dioxide output (VCO₂) of client recorded during walking in level surfaces and stair climbing was 72% and 68% more than the normal abled subject. In the same manner heart rate is also increasing.

Discussion

The human body has evolved an efficient locomotor system and any deviations from normal gait pattern increase the energy cost of walking. The result of the present study shows statistically significant between the two groups which say that in bilateral trans-femoral amputee the metabolic cost index is quite higher than the normal able bodied. In results it was found that the VO₂ uptake, Heart rate and VCO₂ comparisons were highly significant for both bilateral trans-femoral amputee and normal able bodied in walking (p<0.05) and also in stair climbing (p<0.05) condition. This suggests that the change in VO₂ uptake can directly affects the HR and vice-versa [3-5].

From the current study it reveals that the VO₂ uptake, VCO₂ and HR is higher in the bilateral trans-femoral amputee using stubbies than the normal able bodied. This results accords with the literature led by Crouse et al (2001), on their study they compared heart rate, oxygen uptake, and minute ventilation during treadmill ambulation of bilateral trans-femoral amputee subject using stubby and full-length prostheses to three ablebodied controls [5]. During testing, treadmill speed was increased every 3 min, until volitional exhaustion. This study found that ambulation with stubbies was more energy efficient than ambulation with full-length prostheses. Oxygen uptake was 24% higher, minute ventilation was 32% higher, and heart rate was 14% higher when the subject ambulated with full-length prostheses. When comparing the subject with bilateral transfemoral amputee while wearing stubbies to controls, heart rate was 33% higher, oxygen uptake was 47% higher, and minute ventilation was 29% higher. While wearing full-length prostheses, heart rate was 52% higher, oxygen uptake was 80% higher, and minute ventilation was 70% higher than in the control subjects [5,6].

The findings of the study also support the literature of Hoffman et al. 1985, Huang et al. 1986, they compared energy consumption for unimpaired subjects, unilateral below-knee amputees, unilateral above-knee amputees, and subjects with bilateral trans-femoral amputee. Patients walked at a self-selected walking speed, and energy consumption was measured by indirect calorimetric. Compared to unimpaired subjects, mean oxygen consumption was 28% higher in Bilateral trans-femoral amputee patients, which is significantly greater than mean oxygen consumption for unilateral below-knee amputees (9% higher than unimpaired subjects) and unilateral above-knee amputees (49% higher than unimpaired subjects). Taken collectively, these five studies support the fact that ambulation requires significantly greater energy for a patient with bilateral trans-femoral amputee [6-8]. This greater energy requirement can discourage patients with bilateral-trans-femoral amputee from ambulating with prostheses, particularly in the face of advanced age and other co morbidities [5,9].

In walking condition the result of the study showed that there is an increase of 56% higher oxygen consumption, 42% higher Heart Rate and 40% higher energy expenditure in bilateral trans-femoral amputee with stubby than normal population. This might have happened due to the readjustment in autonomic nervous activity apparently carried out and/or the cardiac contractile force might have increased in the walking condition. Oxygen consumption and EE in bilateral transfemoral participants showed a tendency to increase with walking than metabolic rest condition. This literature also supported by Huang et al. 1986 described that Patients with bilateral transfemoral with stubby consume higher level of oxygen and EE to perform same intensity of work as compared to normal population [5,8].

In Stair climbing condition the result of the study showed that there is an increase of 62% higher oxygen consumption, 40% higher Heart Rate and 80% higher energy expenditure in bilateral trans-femoral amputee with stubby than normal population. This might have happened due to; in stair climbing the concentric action of muscle requires more potential energy than in walking on the plane surface. The increase in oxygen cost for stair climbing probably results from additional energy to resist or break the body from gravity’s pull while trying to achieve a proper and safe walking rhythm.

Both Lowenthal’s and McKenzie have used stubby prostheses as training devices to determine whether prosthetic ambulation is a feasible goal [3]. In one of Lowenthal’s five cases it was elected to progress to full-length prostheses; the patient’s gait was more labored and his endurance reduced, but it was believed that the patient’s improved morale was sufficient compensation for these losses. Of McKenzie’s 38 bilateral transfemoral amputee patients, 14 became successful stubby users, but of these, only 5 were able to progress to full-length articulated prostheses. It would appear that stubby prostheses will serve as the prostheses of choice in most patients [10].

Conclusion

A patient recouping from bilateral trans-femoral amputee faces numerous difficulties. Ambulation with prostheses (stubbies) after bilateral-trans femoral amputation requires critical energy use and results in a more slow walking speed than normal. Based on the findings of this analysis, it very well may be inferred that stubbies are moderately simple to utilize, similarly physiological comfort in correlation with full height prosthesis and take into account relative simplicity of gait with less energy cost to the amputee.

Indeed, utilizing stubbies can diminish pulse and oxygen use by 7 to 23 percent and can speed up by up to 25 percent. They are especially useful in the beginning phases of recovery, since they can assist with forestalling contracture or potentially abduction and advance recuperating in the residual limb. In spite of the fact that stubbies are commonly utilized as preparing device to decide an amputee's capacity to move in a limited confined area, it’s being used every day by such amputees all over the world

Along these lines the utilization of stubbies is a safe, handy and successful strategy for improving gait with less energy consumption in her early rehabilitation program. It has likewise a clinically huge impact on the indoor mobility of amputees.

References

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