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Effectiveness of rehabilitation following amputation

Hunters Moor Rehabilitation Centre, Newcastle, UK

Neil Fyfe

Disablement Services Centre, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle, UK

For many patients, the outcome of rehabilitation following amputation depends substantially on comorbidity. This is particularly so where amputation is performed because of peripheral vascular disease which may involve other end-organs, but also applies in trauma where loss of limb may not be the only injury. In evaluating outcome, measures must take account of the very different goals for rehabilitation. These may range from cosmesis or the simple ability to transfer from bed to chair, to successful competition in the Para-Olympics.

Rehabilitation programmes for amputees are not simply prosthetic services, but must take account of the whole patient, their goals and ambitions. Research to date has made a contribution in identifying prognostic factors for prosthetic rehabilitation, thus helping to target limited resources. Controlled studies are still required, however, to establish the optimum services to offer to different groups of patients.

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