Lower extremity amputations and diabetic foot-related complications in the Caribbean population have been previously reported. However, there is a lack of evidence that assess the quality of life experienced in such amputees. This study aimed to determine the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients after a major lower limb amputation. Data collection was performed for all major lower limb amputations undertaken at a tertiary care institution in Trinidad and Tobago, between January 2012 to December 2016. The quality of life for patients who were accessible, alive, and willing to participate was assessed using the EuroQol 5D-5L tool. Statistical analysis was performed using the Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests comparing medians across various subgroups. A total of 134 individuals were still alive and willing to participate in the study. The average EQ-5D-5L index value for the cohort was (0.598), which was significantly lower compared to EQ-5D-5L population norms for Trinidad and Tobago p < 0.05. Statistically significant differences were also seen in median EQ-5D-5L index value for patients who ambulated with a prosthesis (0.787) compared to those who used another device for mobilization (0.656), p < 0.05, and to those patients who did not ambulate (0.195), p < 0.05. A comparable Quality of life was seen between the level of amputation (transtibial versus transfemoral) and gender (males versus females), p-values were 0.21 and 1.0, respectively. Overall quality of life after major amputation, as well as independent mobilization with a prosthesis, continues to be problematic in the Caribbean population. Factors adversely related to the quality of life post major amputation include increasing age, problems related to mobility, and non-ambulatory patients.

Prostheses can help persons with trans-femoral amputation (TFA) regain normal function, but such individuals still exhibit gait deviations expressed in gait asymmetries. We apply a specialised tool, the Symmetry Function (SF), to evaluate the symmetry of walking in terms of kinematic and dynamic variables and to identify areas with large side deviations (exceeding defined ±5% threshold) in the movement cycle.
Which movements and joints or GRF components revealed the most significant side deviations in the movement cycle? When exactly are they located in the gate cycle?
In this retrospective observational study, an instrumented motion analysis system was used to register the gait of fourteen patients after unilateral TFA. Measurements involved evaluating the time series of gait variables characterising a range of motion and the ground reaction force components. Comparison of the prosthetic (involved) limb with the sound (uninvolved) limb in TFA patients was carried out on the basis of the Symmetry Function values.
The Symmetry Function proved to be an effective tool to localise the regions of asymmetry and limb dominance in the full gait cycle. The difference between sides revealed by the Symmetry Function was the highest for the pelvis and the hip. In the sagittal plane, the pelvis was asymmetrically tilted, reaching the highest SF value of more than 25 % at 60 % cycle time. In the transverse plane, the pelvis was even more asymmetrically positioned throughout the entire gait cycle (50 % difference). The hip in the frontal plane reached a 60 % difference throughout the single support phase for the involved and then for the uninvolved limb.
The Symmetry Function allows for the detection of gait asymmetries, temporal shifts in the gait phases and may assess the precise in time adaptation of prostheses and rehabilitation monitoring, especially in unilateral impairments.

The above-knee amputation of a lower limb is a severe impairment that affects significantly the ability to walk; considering this, a complex adaptation strategy at the neuromuscular level is needed in order to be able to move safely with a prosthetic knee. In literature, it has been demonstrated that muscle activity during walking can be described via the activation of a small set of muscle synergies. The analysis of the composition and the time activation profiles of such synergies have been found to be a valid tool for the description of the motor control schemes in pathological subjects.
In this study, we used muscle synergy analysis techniques to characterize the differences in the modular motor control schemes between a population of 14 people with trans-femoral amputation and 12 healthy subjects walking at two different (slow and normal self-selected) speeds. Muscle synergies were extracted from a 12 lower-limb muscles sEMG recording via non-negative matrix factorization. Equivalence of the synergy vectors was quantified by a cross-validation procedure, while differences in terms of time activation coefficients were evaluated through the analysis of the activity in the different gait sub-phases.
Four synergies were able to reconstruct the muscle activity in all subjects. The spatial component of the synergy vectors did not change in all the analysed populations, while differences were present in the activity during the sound limb\'s stance phase. Main features of people with trans-femoral amputation\'s muscle synergy recruitment are a prolonged activation of the module composed of calf muscles and an additional activity of the hamstrings\' module before and after the prosthetic heel strike.
Synergy-based results highlight how, although the complexity and the spatial organization of motor control schemes are the same found in healthy subjects, substantial differences are present in the synergies\' recruitment of people with trans femoral amputation. In particular, the most critical task during the gait cycle is the weight transfer from the sound limb to the prosthetic one. Future studies will integrate these results with the dynamics of movement, aiming to a complete neuro-mechanical characterization of people with trans-femoral amputation\'s walking strategies that can be used to improve the rehabilitation therapies.

To measure self-efficacy in a group of individuals who have undergone a lower-limb amputation and investigate the relationship between self-efficacy and prosthetic-specific outcomes including prosthetic use, mobility, amputation-related problems and global health. A second purpose was to examine if differences exist in outcomes based upon the type of prosthetic knee unit being used.
Cross-sectional study using the General Self-Efficacy (GSE) Scale and the Questionnaire for Persons with a Transfemoral Amputation (Q-TFA). Forty-two individuals participated in the study. Twenty-three used a non-microprocessor-controlled prosthetic knee joint (non-MPK) and 19 used a microprocessor-controlled prosthetic knee joint (MPK).
The study sample had quite high GSE scores (32/40). GSE scores were significantly correlated to the Q-TFA prosthetic use, mobility and problem scores. High GSE scores were related to higher levels of prosthetic use, mobility, global scores and negatively related to problem score. No significant difference was observed between individuals using a non-MPK versus MPK joints.
Individuals with high self-efficacy used their prosthesis to a higher degree and high self-efficacy was related to higher level of mobility, global scores and fewer problems related to the amputation in individuals who have undergone a lower-limb amputation and were using a non-MPK or MPK knee. Implications for rehabilitation Perceived self-efficacy has has been shown to be related to quality of life, prosthetic mobility and capability as well as social activities in daily life. Prosthetic rehabilitation is primary focusing on physical improvement rather than psychological interventions. More attention should be directed towards the relationship between self-efficacy and prosthetic related outcomes during prosthetic rehabilitation after a lower-limb amputation.

BACKGROUND: Early ambulation is the principal objective in trans-femoral amputees. Postamputation modifications complicate the rehabilitation process due to a reduced control at the interface between stump and prosthesis. The aim of this study is to determine whether magnetic resonance imaging depicts the amount of fatty degeneration of the thigh muscles after trans-femoral amputation (TFA).
METHODS: A total of 12 patients following a TFA on the basis of a bone neoplasm or metastasis with an evaluable postoperative MRI were identified. Using the Goutallier classification, the fatty degeneration of the thigh muscles was analyzed in the middle (M) and at the distal end (E) of the residual limb at T1 (10.6 months) and T2 (25.6 months).
RESULTS: Analysis at two different levels showed different grades of fatty degeneration of thigh muscles after TFA at T1 and T2. Comparing fatty degeneration at both levels of the stump, the quadriceps femoris revealed a significant change (p = 0.01) at T1 and M. sartorius and adductor (p = 0.02) at T2.
CONCLUSIONS: MRI is an excellent diagnostic tool to evaluate fatty degeneration after TFA. The highest amount of fatty degeneration of the quadriceps muscle was monitored within the first 10 months. Early physiotherapy is important to strengthen the remaining stump muscles during rehabilitation.

BACKGROUND: The majority of lower limb amputations are undertaken in people with peripheral arterial occlusive disease, and approximately 50% have diabetes. Quality of life is an important outcome in lower limb amputations; little is known about what influences it, and therefore how to improve it.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this systematic review was to identify the factors that influence quality of life after lower limb amputation for peripheral arterial occlusive disease.
METHODS: MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Web of Science and Cochrane databases were searched to identify articles that quantitatively measured quality of life in those with a lower limb amputation for peripheral arterial occlusive disease. Articles were quality assessed by two assessors, evidence tables summarised each article and a narrative synthesis was performed.
METHODS: Systematic review.
RESULTS: Twelve articles were included. Study designs and outcome measures used varied. Quality assessment scores ranged from 36% to 92%. The ability to walk successfully with a prosthesis had the greatest positive impact on quality of life. A trans-femoral amputation was negatively associated with quality of life due to increased difficulty in walking with a prosthesis. Other factors such as older age, being male, longer time since amputation, level of social support and presence of diabetes also negatively affected quality of life.
CONCLUSIONS: Being able to walk with a prosthesis is of primary importance to improve quality of life for people with lower limb amputation due to peripheral arterial occlusive disease. To further understand and improve the quality of life of this population, there is a need for more prospective longitudinal studies, with a standardised outcome measure. Clinical relevance This is of clinical relevance to those who are involved in the rehabilitation of persons with lower limb amputations. Improved quality of life is associated with successful prosthetic use and focus should be directed toward achieving this.

BACKGROUND: Osseointegration has emerged over the past two decades as a dramatically different approach for the treatment of lower limb amputations, which involves direct attachment of the prosthesis to the skeletal residuum. This approach can address many of the socket-interface issues associated with socket prostheses which represent the current standard of care for amputees. The Osseointegrated Prosthetic Limb (OPL) is an osseointegration implant with a new design and improved features compared to other available implant systems.
OBJECTIVE: To report on the experience and outcomes of using the OPL for osseointegrated reconstruction of lower limb amputations.
METHODS: This is a retrospective study of 22 patients who received the OPL implant between December 2013 and November 2014. Clinical outcomes were obtained pre- and post-operatively, with results reported at the 1‑year follow-up. Outcome measures included the Questionnaire for persons with a Trans-Femoral Amputation (Q-TFA), Short Form Health Survey 36 (SF-36), Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT), and Timed Up and Go (TUG). Adverse events were also recorded.
RESULTS: Compared to the mean pre-operative values obtained while patients were using socket prostheses or were wheelchair-bound, the mean post-operative values for all four validated outcome measures were significantly improved. There were 15 episodes of minor infections in 12 patients, all of which responded to antibiotics. Soft tissue refashioning was performed electively on 6 patients. No other adverse events were recorded.
CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrate that osseointegration surgery using the OPL is a relatively safe and effective procedure for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of lower limb amputees.