Lower extremity amputation is a very common amputation and successful prosthetic rehabilitation is a desirable outcome. The aim of this study was to determine which factors affect the success of prosthetic rehabilitation after transtibial vascular amputation. The study included 61 patients who had undergone transtibial amputation (mean age, 64.2±10.4 years; 50 (82%) males). Patients who were able to walk at least 45 meters without aids or with only one walking stick after rehabilitation program were classified into the group of successful prosthetic users. Age, gender, comorbidities, patency of the popliteal artery, wound healing complications, and presence of the phantom limb pain were used as predictive variables. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify predictive factors of successful prosthetic rehabilitation. The model included all variables explaining up to 59.8% of variance, however, only age, absence of functional patency of the popliteal artery and compromised wound healing made significant contribution to the model. In conclusion, good general condition of the patient and sustained patency of the popliteal artery reliably led to clinical improvement and realization of full capacity of rehabilitation after below-knee amputation.
Keywords: Amputation, transtibial; Lower limb; Rehabilitation, prosthetic.