[The functional and professional future of lower limb amputees with prosthesis].

OBJECTIVE: The objective of our study is to evaluate the functional and professional becoming of lower limb amputated population with prosthesis.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Our study is retro-prospective. It interested lower limbs amputated patients who have beneficed during the period between 1982-1998 with prosthesis and have consulted in 1999. Data of our study were gathered by an hetero questionnaire. In order to evaluate the functional results of our patients, we have adopted the score established by the National association of doctors specialized in apparatus in France (ANMA). However, this score was little modified (in fact, we have eliminated the item "use of personalized vehicle for handicapped [VHP]", because no one of our patients possess it). The results were judged favourable: score 6-7; unfavourable: mean score between 3-5 and bad between 0-2.

RESULTS: During the year of our survey, we have questioned 85 lower limb amputated patients with prosthesis: 67 were male and 18 were female. The mean age of our patients is 48 years (6 to 86 years). Our population was divided into: 31 traumatic amputated, 28 arteritics and 26 amputated of other etiologies (tumoral, infectious, congenital...). In 76 cases, the amputation is unilateral. It's located upper the knee in 51 cases. The evaluation of functional autonomy of our patients according to score adopted showed those results: 54.11% were favourable and 45.88% were unfavourable. In professional side, only 35 among our 60 active patients before amputation, have been able to resume, 12 have needed a professional rehabilitation. Among the 25 who hadn't taken up again their work, 15 have early retirement and ten are in unemployment.

CONCLUSION: The amputation of lower limb constitute a major handicap which involves a functional and professional incapacity. We can reduce the risk of this incapacity by a good and appropriate rehabilitation.