POST-FITTING PRACTICES AMONG TRANSFEMORAL AMPUTEES AT ARUA REGIONAL REFERRAL HOSPITAL. A PROPOSED STUDY.

Abstract

Background

Prosthetic fitting aims to enable the patients to achieve maximum functional independence considering the patient’s pre-amputation lifestyle, their expectations, and limitations. Activities to maximize independence in everyday life include self-care like dressing, feeding, bathing, and toileting among others with or without prostheses. Post-fitting management refers to follow-up activities performed by the rehabilitation team after the amputee has been fitted and discharged with a prosthesis to ensure maximum functional independence amidst the gait training and the accurate static and dynamic alignments done by the orthopedic technologists, patients have continued to present with these problems. Post-fitting management is essential to achieve the functional independence of the amputee. And it needs to be a continuous process. A person with an amputation in the prosthetic phase can continue to improve greatly if he is taught about the major goals of the post-fitting stage Therefore, post-fitting management needs to be reinforced and made continuous to prevent such occurrences among transfemoral amputees. The study aims to assess fitting practices among transfemoral amputees at Arua Regional Referral Hospital.

 Discussion

There is a a need for continued studies about prosthetic fitting whose aim is to enable patients to achieve maximum functional independence considering the patient’s pre-amputation lifestyle, expectations, and limitations. Proper assessment of post-fitting practices among transfemoral amputees will shed more light on the progress of management amputees and establish the existing challenges and areas of concern that may need to be addressed by both the patients and health workers. The findings of the assessment may contribute to the overall prognosis of current and future post-fitting patients and offer a foundation for further research.