Prosthetics SAQ's

Question 1

What are the goals of amputation surgery?

Question 2

Name three general principles that apply to amputation surgery.

Question 3

List five reasons for amputation.

Question 4

List the seven levels at which an amputation may be carried out in the lower limb.

Question 5

What is the basic principle of upper limb amputation surgery?

Question 6

List four procedures that are used to determine the level of amputation of the lower limb.

Question 7

What is (i) myodesis (ii) myoplasty?

Question 8

Which four groups of muscles are sutured during myodesis in a transfemoral amputation?

Question 9

List two measures, other than those performed during the operation, that contribute to speedy wound healing.

Question 10

At which levels of lower limb amputation can a rigid plaster of Paris dressing be used?

Question 11

Name three immediate complications that may follow amputation surgery.

Question 12

List any late complications that may cause the stump to change in size or shape. What could be the ultimate consequences of any change?

Question 13

List the main factors in the pre and post-operative management of an amputee.

Question 14

Describe the different pain control methods for a

1. vascular patient
2. trauma patient

Question 15

What are phantom phenomena?

Question 16

List the main treatment methods of phantom phenomena and pain

Question 17

What are the main purposes of wound dressings?

Question 18

List the types of stump dressings and, where relevant, the amputation levels for which they are used.

Question 19

Briefly describe the role of the nurse in the care of the amputee.

Question 20

List the members of the rehabilitation team.

Question 21

What is a rehab team case conference?

Question 22

List the details the physiotherapist must know about the patient.

Question 23

List the factors measured by the physiotherapist during a physical assessment of an amputee.

Question 24

What position will the trans-femoral stump adopt without instruction?

Question 25

List the types of early walking aid.

Question 26

What are the benefits of using an early walking aid?

Question 27

How does gait re-education commence?

Question 28

List five aspects of the role of the occupational therapist in rehabilitation of the amputee.

Question 29

Briefly describe the different toileting methods recommended for unilateral and bilateral amputees.

Question 30

List the activities of daily living that are part of the rehabilitation process.

Question 31

What types of fabrics are suitable for amputees?

Question 32

What special precautions are necessary before an amputee returns to work?

Question 33

List the objectives of graded activities.

Question 34

Give three examples of graded activities.

Question 35

How are environmental constraints and requirements assessed?

Question 36

What role do Community Services play in the rehabilitation of the amputee?

Question 37

What is a limb prosthesis?

Question 38

What are the prosthetic requirements for an elderly trans-femoral amputee?

Question 39

What prehensile devices are available for the upper limb amputee?

Question 40

How are these prehensile devices controlled?

Question 41

Why is social reintegration following amputation important?

Question 42

When is a patient discharged following amputation?

Question 43

Why should a patient remain in contact with the limb fitting centre after discharge?

Question 44

If independent mobility is the over-riding objective of lower limb prosthetic replacement, what are the three specific objectives which contribute to the attainment of this?

Question 45

List the five categories of prosthetic component defined by the International Standards Organisation.

Question 46

List the three types of force transmission that interface components must permit.

Question 47

What is the principal means of support in a socket for (i) a patient with a trans-femoral amputation and (ii) a knee disarticulation patient?

Question 48

What will be the effect of moving the foot of a trans-tibial prosthesis laterally upon (a) the magnitude of the stabilising forces in the coronal plane (b) the appearance of the patient’s gait?

Question 49

What are the two primary requirements of all lower limb prosthetic functional components?

Question 50

What are the two principal categories of ankle-foot devices?

Question 51

How does a non-articulated rigid ankle-foot device simulate ankle plantarflexion at heel contact?

Question 52

What is the principal requirement of a prosthetic knee unit during (a) stance phase and (b) swing phase?

Question 53

List three types of knee unit stance phase control mechanism.

Question 54

The Canadian design of hip disarticulation permits the patient to walk with a free hip and a free knee. List the key features of the design which makes this possible.

Question 55

How does the hip disarticulation prosthesis user initiate knee flexion at the end of the stance phase?

Question 56

List the six types of adjustment required to perform the alignment process.

Question 57

Pyramid designs of integrated alignment devices permit only angular changes (or tilts) in alignment. How is a linear change (or shift) achieved in a prosthesis incorporating this design of component?

Question 58

What alignment change is indicated to relieve excessive proximal medial stump socket pressure in a transtibial prosthesis when standing, when (a) the foot is flat on the ground (b) the foot is bearing weight on the lateral margin only?

Question 59

What are two elements of cosmesis?

Question 60

Why is the cosmesis of prostheses for patients who have suffered disarticulation surgery less satisfactory than other categories of prostheses?

Question 61

When rectifying a cast for a prosthetic socket, what areas of the cast are generally (a) built up (b) have plaster removed from them and why?

Question 62

What are the two currently existing methods of digitising the shape of the stump of a CAD/CAM system?

Question 63

What are the two types of principal structural tests for lower limb prostheses and what type of loading are they designed to test for?

Answer 63

A static test comprising a single application of a load corresponding to the worst load generated during anticipated activity.

A cycle test to test the fatigue properties of the prosthesis comprising the repetitive application of a load corresponding to that generated during normal walking.

Question 64

What are the two main categories of upper limb absence or amputation and what are their root causes?

Question 65

What is the main objective of upper limb prosthetic treatment?

Question 66

Which factors may determine an individual’s success with an upper limb prosthesis?

Question 67

What are the important factors in determining how comfortable a upper limb prosthesis is?

Question 68

Why do some people with unilateral upper limb absence give up wearing a functional prosthesis?

Question 69

What is the difference between static cosmesis and dynamic cosmesis?

Question 70

What are the main categories for providing power for upper limb prostheses?

Question 71

What is the main limitation on using external power for upper limb prostheses?

Question 72

What are the advantages of body powered upper limb prostheses?

Question 73

What are the control limitations of body-powered upper limb prostheses?

Question 74

What is a volar plate?

Question 75

What is an EMG?

Question 76

What are the advantages of myoelectric control of an upper limb prosthesis?

Question 77

What is a proprioceptor?

Question 77

When might a servo-controlled prosthesis be considered useful?

Question 78

What are the main components of a trans-radial body powered upper limb prosthesis?

Question 79

What are the main components of a trans-humeral body powered upper limb prosthesis?

Question 80

What is the main function of a socket?

Question 81

What is the main function of a harness?

Question 82

Which features are desirable for a harness?

Question 83

What are the advantages of a volar plate?

Question 84

What are the advantages of a split hook?

Question 85

What are the advantages of a mechanical hand?

Question 86

What improvements could be made to electrically-powered artificial hands?

Question 87

Which units are used to rate the capacity of a battery?

Question 88

What are the advantages of NiMH batteries over NiCad batteries?

Question 89

How do “smart chargers” differ from conventional battery chargers?

Question 90

What is one main disadvantage of cable-operated body-powered prostheses?

Question 91

What are myoelectric transducers?

Question 92

What are the disadvantages of the use of PVC to make “gloves” for a prosthetic hand?