Activities of daily living in lower limb amputees with a bone-anchored prosthesis: a retrospective case series with 24 months’ follow-up

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Little is known about the activities of daily living (ADL) of patients with a bone-anchored prosthesis (BAP). We aimed to objectively measure ADL without and with BAP during standard care of follow-up. Our secondary aim was to measure mobility and walking ability. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients aged 18–99 years who underwent surgery for transfemoral or transtibial BAP between September 11, 2017, and February 11, 2021, were eligible for inclusion in this retrospective case series of patients with socket prosthesis. ADL was measured with a continuous recording activity monitor (hours [h]) before surgery, and at 6, 12, and 24 months with BAP. Mobility and walking ability were assessed by the Timed Up and Go test (TUG) (seconds [s]) and 6 Minute Walk Test (6MWT) (meters [m]), respectively. RESULTS: 48 of the 57 eligible patients provided informed consent and were included. Their age was 59 (1st quartile to 3rd quartile 51–63) years. Total daily activity before BAP was 1.6 h (0.82–2.1) and increased to 2.1 h (1.4–2.5) at 6, 2.0 h (1.5–2.7) at 12, and 2.7 h (2.0–3.3) at 24 months with BAP. Daily walking increased from 1.3 h (0.79–1.9) before BAP to 1.8 h (1.6–2.3) at 6, to 1.7 h (1.2–2.4) at 12, and 2.0 h (1.6–2.6) at 24 months. Median TUG decreased from 12 s (9.1–14) before BAP to 8.9 s (7.7–10) at 24 months. Mean 6MWT increased from 272 m (SD 92) before BAP to 348 m (SD 68) at 24 months. CONCLUSION: Objective measurements on ADL positively changed in patients with BAP. This effect was also seen in mobility and walking ability at 24 months.