Physical Recovery After Transfemoral Amputation Using the Press-Fit Percutaneous Osseointegrated Prosthesis.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate physical recovery based on physiological measures of gait economy, gait speed, exertional heart rate, comprehensive high-level activity mobility predictor (CHAMP) and daily step counts over the first 12 months post-percutaneous osseointegrated prosthesis (post-POP).

DESIGN

Prospective longitudinal cohort study.

SETTING

Academic hospital.

PARTICIPANTS

Participants (N=10) underwent a unilateral POP implantation from a parent prospective study.

INTERVENTIONS: Surgery.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Gait economy, gait speed, exertional heart rate, CHAMP, and daily step counts.

RESULTS

Significant improvement in gait economy, relative to baseline, were observed at 3-month (P=.02), 6-month (P=.02) and 12-month (P<.01) post-POP. Significant increase in CHAMP scores, relative to baseline, were observed at 6-months (P=.01) and 12-months (P<.01) post-POP. Significant increase in exertional heart rate (P<.01), gait speed (P=.03) and daily step count (P=.04), relative to baseline, was observed at 12-months post-POP. The gait economy and CHAMP scores showed earlier gains compared with exertional heart rate, gait speed, and daily step count scores, with the greatest gains observed in the first 3-6 months post-POP.

CONCLUSIONS

These data will help to inform expectations for outcomes for patients and clinicians considering POP implantation and could assist in detecting outliers from the normal recovery curve who may benefit from targeted interventions post-POP.