Jaime Bellamy*, Daniel J Stinner, Johnny G Owens, Joseph R Hsu, Jason M Wilken, and Nicolle Valenzuela-Briones
Background: Severe lower extremity injuries require limb salvage, amputation and/or late amputation. Our purpose was to compare gait mechanics pre-amputation without a brace, pre-amputation with a brace and postamputation with prosthesis.
Case descriptions and methods: Three subjects with severe lower extremity injuries underwent limb salvage and late transtibial amputation. Biomechanical gait assessment was performed without a brace, with a brace and after amputation with prosthesis.
Results: Case 1, peak dorsiflexion angle was 94% higher post-amputation compared to bracing and peak ankle torque and power were similar with bracing and post amputation. Case 2, the ankle torque was increased when testing with bracing, but there was no difference between bracing and post-amputation. Ankle power was 78% higher post-amputation. Case 3, the ankle power was 16% higher post-amputation compared to bracing.
Conclusion: In patients pursuing limb salvage where the limb is braceable, it functions similar to a transtibial amputation with prosthesis.
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