Comparison of Removable Rigid Dressing and Elastic Bandage for Residual Limb Maturation in Transtibial Amputees: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of a removable rigid dressing (RRD) on the time to residual limb maturation compared with elastic bandage (EB) in transtibial amputees.

DESIGN: Experimental single-blinded (assessor-blinded) randomized controlled trial.

SETTING: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital.

PARTICIPANTS: Transtibial amputees (N=25) with immature residual limb.

INTERVENTION: Participants were allocated to use RRD or EB to achieve residual limb maturation, and all participants in both groups were trained with the same preprosthetic program.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The time to residual limb maturation, patient satisfaction, and complications were compared between the 2 groups.

RESULTS: Median time to residual limb maturation was significantly lower in the RRD group (median, 28d [interquartile range, 17-51d]) than in the EB group (median, 54d [interquartile range, 30-77d]; P=.020). After accounting for time since amputation, maturation time remained significantly lower in the RRD group (adjusted hazard ratio, 3.32; 95% CI, 1.08-10.20; P=.036). There was no significant difference in complications or patient satisfaction.

CONCLUSION: In postoperative management of transtibial amputation, the use of RRD had a significantly shorter period to residual limb maturation when compared with the EB group.