Article

The early postoperative phase after transtibial amputation is characterized by
rapid residual limb volume reduction. Accurate measurement of residual limb
volume is important for the timing of fitting a prosthesis. The aim of this study
is to analyze the reduction of residual limb volume in people with transtibial
amputation and to correlate residual limb volume with residual limb
circumference. In a longitudinal cohort study of 21 people who had a transtibial
amputation, residual limb volume was measured using a laser scanner and
circumference was measured using a tape measure 1 wk postamputation and every 3
wk thereafter until 24 wk postamputation. A linear mixed model analysis was
performed with weeks postamputation transformed according to the natural
logarithm as predictor. Residual limb volume decreased significantly over time,
with a large variation between patients. Residual limb volume does not correlate
well with circumference. On average, residual limb volume decreased 200.5 mL
(9.7% of the initial volume) per natural logarithm of the weeks postamputation.
The decrease in residual limb volume following a transtibial amputation is
substantial in the early postamputation phase, followed by a leveling off. It was
not possible to determine a specific moment when the residual limb volume had stabilized.
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Langue : ANGLAIS