Analyses of prosthetic episodes in trans-tibial amputees.

The prosthetic episodes, i.e. actual processes of provision, identifying number of prostheses, their maintenance, repairs and replacements were analysed for 104 trans-tibial amputees aged 16 and over, over a 10 year period. The purpose of this investigation was to identify how frequently a new prosthesis is actually required for this group of amputees and what are their maintenance requirements. Variations of requirement between the amputee groups of aged 16-60 and over 60 years are also addressed. In the 10 years period of the study the amputees needed an average of 5.04 new prostheses, 6.25 refits, 2.28 major repairs and 17.04 day repairs. The younger amputees, i.e. below the age of 60 years, required significantly more new prostheses (p=0.003), more refit of sockets (p=0.0012) and more day repairs (p=0.01). Traumatic amputees below the age of 60 years needed significantly more day repairs compared to the non-traumatic amputees in the older age group (p=0.003).