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PURPOSE: To review the prosthetic history, prosthetic charges, and functional status of traumatic, isolated, unilateral below-knee amputees at select intervals following amputation. METHODS: This descriptive study was conducted among patients admitted to Harborview Medical Center between 1980 and 1987 who survived initial trauma, and who required an isolated, below-knee amputation. Hospital and prosthetist records were abstracted to calculate the number of prostheses fabricated and the prosthetic charges since initial amputation. Functional outcomes were determined by personal interview and self-administration of the SF-36 Health Status Profile. RESULTS: The average age of patients was 36 with the age range extending from 19 to 59 years. The prosthetic history and prosthetic charges were determined from the medical record and the billing records of the prosthetist. Exact charges were determined for 15 of the 20 patients. During the first 3 years, the mean number of prostheses acquired per patient was 3. 4 (range 1-5), with average total prosthetic charges of 10, 829 (range 2, 558-15, 700). Over the first 5 years the mean number of prostheses acquired per patient was 4. 4 (range 2-8), with average total prosthetic charges of 13, 945 (range 6, 203-20, 070). The SF-36 Health Status Profile scores were significantly decreased from published normal aged-matched scores in the categories of physical function and role limitations because of physical health problems and pain. Scores were not significantly different from published normal aged-matched scores in the other five categories: role limitations due to emotional problems, social functioning, mental health, energy/fatigue, and health perception.
Smith et al. (Sun,) studied this question.