Effect of a distal weight-bearing implant on visual analog scale scores in 23 transfemoral amputees.

The objective of this interrupted time series clinical trial was to evaluate the effect of a distal weight-bearing implant on well-being in patients with transfemoral amputations using the visual analog scale (VAS). A total of 29 patients from five hospitals with previous transfemoral amputations were surgically implanted with an osseoanchored implant with a distal spacer that allows a direct load on the residuum over the distal surface of the socket. Patients were followed for a 14-month period and assessed presurgically and postsurgically using the VAS. The Wilcoxon test was used to evaluate the differences between variables. VAS mean scores improved significantly after intervention. Significant and clinically meaningful improvements in the VAS score suggest overall improvement in well-being for patients after receiving a distal weight-bearing implant.