Static postural stability and fall risk in patients with lower limb amputation

Aim: in the present study, it is aimed to compare and search the static postural stability and fall risk between the patients with lower limb amputation and control group. materials and methods: demographic data of 15 patients with unilateral transtibial amputation and 17 healthy controls, and clinical data about the amputation and prosthesis use of the amputee patients were recorded. postural balance was measured by static posturography device (tetrax, sunlight medical ltd, israel). patients were asked to place the feet on the areas of the platform of device without shoes and to hold erect posture to examine the static posturography test. at the end of the measurement, fall risk which is calculated by the software of the device according to sway rates of 8 different positions was evaluated. results: fifteen patients (1 female, 14 male) with unilateral transtibial amputation with the mean age of 39,3±11,9 years (20-65), mean time elapsed since amputation of 115,2±112,9 (8-360) months, and mean time of prosthesis use of 101,1±105,2 (6-340) months were evaluated together with the results of seventeen controls (1 female, 16 male) with the mean age of 39,5±13,2 (20-57) years. there were no significant differences between groups in terms of age, height, body mass, and gender (p>0,05). significantly higher fall risk was detected in the amputee group (84,1±27,1, 8-100) than the control group (28,4±16,2, 8-52). conclusion: fall risk of the unilateral transtibial amputee patients mobilising with prosthesis was detected higher than the healthy controls. when the rehabilitation programme is planned for the patients with lower limb amputation, keeping in mind the balance-coordination exercises will be beneficial for avoiding the adjunt traumas following falls.