Amputations and Prosthetics

Question 1

T or F: Amputations only occur in older individuals.

Answer 1

False; Amputation may occur at any age

Question 2

Amputations may be a result of what three things?

Answer 2

–Systemic disease ( vascular disease, tumors, or infection)
–Trauma/ injury (accidents, machinery injury and MVA)
–Malformation (congenital: limb missing or partial developed)

Question 3

T or F: Occupational therapy aims to assist the individual in attaining their optimal level of function and independence following amputations.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

T or F: Amputations are caused only because they are acquired.

Answer 4

False; they are acquired and congenital

Question 5

T or F: Limb deformities occurring before birth are common.

Answer 5

False; it’s rare

Question 6

T or F: Acquired causation are malformations of limbs at the fetal stage of development

Answer 6

False; congenital causation

Question 7

T or F: Acquired caustation are secondary to chronic medical conditions or severe trauma
• Environmental injury, Land mines

Answer 7

True

Question 8

What is the incidence and prevalence of amputations?

Answer 8

• Greater than 150,000 persons in the US
• Incidence or Upper extremity amputation is quite low compared to the lower extremity
• Ratio of 1 to 3, arm to leg amputations
• 57% are of UE amputations are transradial
• Disease process is the primary cause for LE
• PVD
• DM
• Trauma causes 20% of LE amputations
• 5 percent of these due to tumors

Question 9

What causes 20% of LE amputations?

Answer 9

Trauma

Question 10

What is a systemic condition which accounts for majority of limb amputations?

Answer 10

Peripheral vascular disease (PVD)

Question 11

Which arterial disease impairs circulation?

Answer 11

Peripheral vascular disease (PVD)

Question 12

What does PVD have co-morbidities with?

Answer 12

HTN and DM

Question 13

T or F: PVD has a good prognosis.

Answer 13

False; Prognosis is poor as circulation to the other limb is usually impaired

Question 14

An amputation will only be preformed as a life saving measure with what disease?

Answer 14

Malignancy and incurable bone disease (bone cancer and osteomyelitis)

Question 15

T or F: Adverse side effects of chemotherapy or radiation can affect rehabilitation

Answer 15

True

Question 16

T or F: Adverse side effects of chemotherapy or radiation can affect rehabilitation

Answer 16

True

Question 17

T or F: High level amputations radically reduces body mass and affects the center of gravity as well as balance

Answer 17

True

Question 18

T or F: Autonomic system also needs to adjust to reductions of skin area

Answer 18

True

Question 19

What is the second most common cause of amputation?

Answer 19

Acquired (Trauma)

Question 20

What are some causes of an acquired (trauma) amputation?

Answer 20

industrial injuries, severe burns, MVA, gun shot, and inadequate healing

Question 21

T or F: Impaired healing does not delay prosthetic fitting

Answer 21

False; it may

Question 22

T or F: Crush injuries affect all soft tissues as well as causing fracture.

Answer 22

True; damages peripheral nerves, blood vessels, muscle and ligaments

Question 23

T or F: Crush injuries may tear ligaments and damage proximal joints damaging tissue at site of amputation.

Answer 23

False; traction injuries

Question 24

T or F: Proximal joint damage or instability in a tranction injury may limit the choice of prosthesis

Answer 24

True

Question 25

What type of amputation is a type of severance of a limb in which the proximal joints and muscles are intact?

Answer 25

Guillotine (acquired)

Question 26

Which type of amputation may provide the best potential for rehabilitation providing the wound is not contaminated

Answer 26

Guillotine (acquired)

Question 27

T or F: Delayed healing may affect reconstructive surgery which is important for upper limb amputees

Answer 27

True

Question 28

T or F: ROM can be quickly lost with prolonged periods of immobility

Answer 28

True

Question 29

T or F: Amputations as a result of burns have serious tissue damage.

Answer 29

True

Question 30

T or F: Thermal burns may require skin grafting and scar tissue formation may limit joint mobility and reduce the extensibility of affected muscle tissue.

Answer 30

True

Question 31

T or F: High voltage electrical burns dont cause deep tissue damage

Answer 31

False; they do cause this type of damage

Question 32

What is common and occurs in virtually all cases of amputation?

Answer 32

Phantom limb sensation

Question 33

What does phantom limb sensation mean?

Answer 33

Amputee has the sensation that the missing limb is still present

Question 34

How may the limb be feeling with phantom limb sensation?

Answer 34

The limb may feel hot, cold sweaty

Question 35

When does phantom limb sensation happen?

Answer 35

Can occur almost immediately after surgery and last for years

Question 36

T or F: Phantom limb sensation causes increased anxiety and if able should be explained to patient prior to surgery

Answer 36

True

Question 37

T or F: Phantom limb pain should be included in the OT assessment

Answer 37

True

Question 38

T or F: PLP is more serious of a problem than PLS

Answer 38

True

Question 39

T or F: PLP affects only a small number of amputees but has major functional implications

Answer 39

True

Question 40

T or F: Patients may suffer pain ( stabbing, burning, squeezing and crushing) which can vary in frequency, intensity and duration

Answer 40

True

Question 41

When does PLP start?

Answer 41

Onset may not occur for weeks or years

Question 42

T or F: PLP may be linked to psychosocial and physiological symptoms

Answer 42

True