Evaluation of a temporary prosthetic insert in the rehabilitation of elderly ischaemic below-knee amputees: a pilot study.

The physiotherapy management of elderly, ischaemic below knee amputees is often compromised by delayed and/or complicated wound healing. Such patients are often unable to ambulate on a prosthesis for prolonged periods. Problems concommitant with immobilization such as weakness, contractures, and decreased morale tend to arise. This pilot study investigated the efficacy of incorporating a shaped Dunlopillo insert into a temporary prosthetic socket to allow the at risk group to ambulate as soon as the sutures were removed regardless of the state of wound healing. Two parameters were evaluated, namely wound healing and stump maturation. A total of eighteen subjects were observed in a control and an experimental group. Both wound healing (p < 0.05) and stump maturation (p < 0.05) were significantly enhanced by the inclusion of a Dunlopillo insert.