Shashank Yeshwant Kothari1, Rajendra Sharma2, Unmesh Sabnis3
Removal of a part of a limb through one or more bones termed amputation is done for various causes. Properly performed amputation is a reconstructive procedure. Effective postoperative rehabilitation reduces disability and helps in proper shaping of the residual limb leading to final prosthetic fitment.
The aim of the study is to compare effect of rigid dressing and Immediate Postoperative Prosthesis (IPOP) using a simple and cheap pylon developed by the first author with soft dressing in respect of stump maturation and function in lower limb amputees.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Fifty one patients with lower limb amputations were included in the study and randomised into two groups. Twenty four patients completed follow-up in the study group of rigid dressing with early postoperative prosthetic fitting while twenty patients completed with soft dressing. Stump maturation as measured by girth and volumetric assessment and complications of residual pain and phantom pain were compared at six weeks and twelve weeks with baseline data.
Statistical Analysis- Done with SPSS for Windows version 17. Independent-T test was used for comparison of continuous variables and Chi-square and Fischer exact test was used for comparison of dichotomous responses.
Settings and Design- The study was done in a multispecialty teaching hospital of a metro city. It was a well-structured comparative study done after addressing all safety and ethical issues.
RESULTS
Stump maturation was significantly better and the stump complications reduced in the study group.
CONCLUSION
Rigid dressing with IPOP has proven to be significantly superior to soft dressing in terms of maturation of stump and residual complications in lower limb amputations.
