Hanger, Austin, Texas, announced the results of its Stability and Falls Evaluation after AMPutation (SAFE-AMP) 1 study. The study evaluated the impact of microprocessor-controlled knees (MPKs) on rates of injurious falls among people with transfemoral amputations who have diabetes and dysvascular conditions. Although diabetes and dysvascular disease are the most common cause of amputations in the United States, most MPK research has focused on traumatic amputations, according to the researchers.
The study found that an MPK can decrease odds of an injurious fall by 250 percent for individuals with amputation due to diabetes or dysvascular disease. It also revealed that not providing a patient with diabetes with an MPK increased their risk of falling, more than the risk associated with aging.
Nearly 900 diabetic prosthesis users with transfemoral amputations who were eligible for MPKs were analyzed, with data including gender, age, time since amputation, and body mass index adjusted for limb loss. The study is anticipated to be the first in a series that will examine the need for greater access to appropriate rehabilitation solutions for lower-limb amputees in the diabetes community.
“Hanger is committed to conducting innovative research to advance clinical care for patients relying on orthoses and prostheses,” said James Campbell, PhD, Hanger chief clinical officer. “Our SAFE-AMP findings illustrate that further work is warranted to better understand how all possible orthotic and prosthetic care solutions can help improve clinical outcomes and quality of life for the diabetic patient population.”
SAFE-AMP is part of a collection of research 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, “Stability and Falls Evaluation after AMPutation (SAFE-AMP) 1 study” was published in the journal Assistive Technology.
