The second study in the OASIS series by the Hanger Institute for Clinical Research and Education, Austin, Texas, reported that L-5987-coded feet were associated with improved mobility compared to the L-5981
category. The results confirmed 2019 results of a dysvascular/diabetic population of 738 individuals with amputations in the Institute’s Mobility Analysis of Amputees (MAAT) 5 study. The latest study also questioned whether prosthetic feet and componentry should be categorized based on functional outcomes instead of mechanical features.
“At Hanger, we believe our clinical care should be measured by the outcomes we achieve, not the devices we deliver,” said James Campbell, PhD, chief clinical officer. “This second OASIS study uses real-world clinical outcomes data to demonstrate that emphasizing functional performance over visible characteristics may be a pathway toward higher performance for the end user.”
Several highly utilized prosthetic feet were recoded from L-5987 to L-5981 due to the lack of a visually distinct vertical loading mechanism. The analysis compared functional outcomes of 526 users across a variety of etiologies who used prosthetic feet that retained an L-5987 coding; prosthetic feet that were
To watch a video overview of the study, visit Hanger’s website.
newly assigned an L-5981 coding; and those that sustained an L-5981 coding. Results showed no significant difference in functional mobility for individuals with prosthetic feet that had its coding
modified to L-5981, compared to those that retained the L-5987 designation.
The OASIS series is part of a collection of studies already published or in various stages of publication by the Hanger Institute for Clinical Research and Education in collaboration with leading researchers, clinical, and academic institutions.
The study, “OASIS 2: Mobility Differences with Specific Prosthetic Feet Across Procedure Codes,” was published in the Journal of Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies Engineering (RATE).
