Stating that previous literature has suggested that patients with a hemipelvectomy walk more efficiently with crutches than a prosthesis, researchers at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, studied whether modern prosthetic use may be a more viable option for patients after hemipelvectomy than in the past. The study concludes that in addition to advances in surgical techniques, prosthetic rehabilitation and management are beginning to optimize functional mobility with the prosthesis. The collected data showed that patients who use a modern prosthesis following hemipelvectomy demonstrated good clinical function with and without a prosthesis.
The study cohort consisted of five patients who underwent hemipelvectomies and were fit with high-level prosthetic components. They were evaluated using a Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, five- and 400-meter walk tests, and the Stair Climb test to evaluate functional performance with and without a prosthesis. Short Form 36 (SF-36) scores were also collected, and results of the tests were compared to matched controls.
According to the researchers, there was a trend for faster locomotion using crutches over wearing a prosthesis in the TUG test and the five- and 400-meter walk tests, but no difference in stair climbing. SF-36 scores showed a decreased physical component score, but equal mental component score compared to the general population.
The study was published online before print on April 20 in the journal
Prosthetics and Orthotics International.
