Follow-up study on a group of older amputee patients.

Deta i led interviews w e r e he ld with 51 amputees f o l l o w e d for vary ing per iods after fitting of prostheses a n d re lease from hosp i ta l . Psycho log ica l factors affecting attitude a n d motivation s e e m e d to be operat ing to var ious d e g r e e s . F a v o r a b l e mora le regard ing va lue a n d use of the prosthesis by individuals a p p e a r e d to be re la ted to d e g r e e of c h a n g e in physica l condit ion, m o d e of l iving, a n d re­ striction on activit ies. It is be l ieved wor thwhi le to provide pros­ theses with assist ive dev ices for older amputees in order to he lp them remain more funct ional in their s e l f c a r e , ambu la t ion , a n d posthospi ta l adjustment .