Date of Award

2015

Document Type

Scholarly Project

Degree Name

Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)

Department

Physical Therapy

First Advisor

Cindy Flom-Meland

Keywords

Amputation -- rehabilitation; Amputees -- education; Amputees -- rehabilitation; Artificial Limbs; Walking -- physiology; Case Reports

Abstract

Background and Purpose. This case study is focused on the treatment of an individual with a residual limb after a transfemoral amputation. The main goal is to help provide a greater understanding of how to treat the residual limb after a transfemoral amputation has been performed.

Case Description. This case study focuses on an older gentleman who recently underwent a transfemoral amputation of the right lower extremity because of dysvacularity. The patient was obese and had diabetes which is not uncommon for patients with an amputation. Physical therapy provided care in many ways including but not limited to wound care, therapeutic exercise, gait training and prosthetic fitting and training.

Discussion. The patient progressed well because of his efforts in therapy and the proper management of his diagnosis. After much hard work, by both the patient and the therapist, the patient was fitted with a prosthesis and was able to ambulate house distances without assistance. For this patient's age and his original functional abilities it was quite remarkable that he was able to progress to the current functional status which he attained. At the start of treatment he was unable to complete a one legged stance and had many co-morbidities. This led the rehabilitation staff to assume that the patient would not be a good candidate for a functional prosthesis.

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