Levels of Amputation
This level of amputation is associated with the lowest post-op mortality and highest rate of successful prosthetic use in patients with vascular disease.
What is a transtibial (below-knee) amputation?
In early acute rehab, this positioning strategy helps prevent hip and knee flexion contractures in BKA patients.
What is prone lying and avoiding prolonged sitting with flexed hips/knees?
A patient just had bilateral amputation. This type of prosthetic can be used to help them gain strength and balance in the upright position.
What is a stubbie?
50% of patients with diabetes will have a contralateral amputation within this amount of time.
What are 2-3 years?
The most common cause of lower extremity amputations in the U.S. is associated with this progressive vascular condition.
What is peripheral vascular disease?
This level of amputation often results in the greatest increase in energy expenditure for ambulation and many older individuals opt for a wheelchair.
What is bilateral transfemoral amputation?
A patient with a soft post-op dressing must be educated to rewrap their limb this frequently to maintain compression and reduce edema.
What is every 2–3 hours or whenever shifting is noticed?
You assess a patient with an AKA complaining of pain and "buzzing" in the residual limb. You suspect this complication.
What is a neuroma?
This transtibial amputation technique allows for distal end bearing.
What is an Ertl procedure?
A 55-year-old woman with CRPS elects to have her limb amputated. This type of amputation is performed for non-life-threatening pain.
What is an elective amputation?
This level of amputation is often selected when gangrene extends to the knee or vascularity precludes healing at a distal site.
What is transfemoral (above-knee) amputation?
You evaluate a patient 4 days post-BKA. They have a compressible soft dressing. The main disadvantage of this dressing type is
What is minimal residual limb protection and poor edema control?
A patient with a transmetatarsal amputation shows poor toe-off in gait. You recommend this type of orthotic intervention.
What is a shoe filler or toe-off orthosis?
This type of prosthetic is not a candidate for everyone, has long post op healing, and has two phases.
What is osseointegration?
This disarticulation amputation spares the heel pad for end-bearing and typically results in little need for post-operative care, though early pressure must be avoided to prevent shifting of the soft tissue.
What is a Symes (ankle disarticulation)?
This level of amputation of is rarely used with dysvascularites because of improved function with short transtibial residual limb.
What is a knee disarticulation amputation?
A 72-year-old BKA patient is delayed in prosthetic fitting due to surgical site issues. You now expect increased risk of this musculoskeletal complication.
What are joint contractures, general debility, and depressed psychological state?
A 66-year-old with bilateral transtibial amputations are noted to have excessive rolling side to side and wider BOS during gait. You suspect they lack this.
What is trunk and hip strength/balance control?
A surgeon chooses this muscle management technique to anchor muscle to bone in an AKA to improve prosthetic control.
What is a myodesis?
This surgical approach for transfemoral amputees allows a nerve to be intentionally redirected to reduce neuroma formation and phantom limb pain.
What is Targeted Muscle Reinnervation (TMR)?
This post-surgical care for this level of amputation consists of sitting and standing balance activities, floor transfers and bathtub activities.
What is a hip disarticulation/transpelvic amputation?
This program, supported by the Amputee Coalition, uses trained amputees to support new amputees in their recovery.
What is the Certified Peer Visitor (CPV) program?
Your patient is in the acute phase of recovery. The patient should report this range of exertion on 0-10 while in therapy.
What is RPE 6-8/10?
This type of post-operative dressing provides superior edema control and residual limb protection, but limits access to incision and requires trained application.
What is an IPOP?
A patient is recovering from a transtibial amputation and is in physical therapy. You notice that the patient is jumping instead of lifting through the UEs. This added component to a walker can help prevent this.
What is "The Kneeler"?