The effectiveness of osseointegrated prostheses on quality of life and mobility for trans-femoral amputation, compared to socket prostheses

Abstract

Background: conventional socket prostheses (SP) are commonly prescribed to restore mobility, but prolonged use can cause complications such as skin irritation and pain. These issues are particularly prevalent among above-knee amputees, with approximately 70% experiencing persistent skin problems, which further reduction their quality of life (QoL) and mobility. The challenges in achieving a comfortable fit and the associated complications highlight the ongoing need for improved prosthetic solutions. However, osteointegration offered a new approach to addressing the limitations of SP Aim: To investigate whether mobility and QoL outcomes with OI are superior to SP for the patients with transfemoral amputation. Method: A combination of key words using Boolean search terms was used in appropriate databases (PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science) to include relevant studies that compared between OI and SP on QoL and mobility for transfemoral amputation. Results: This review includes five primary research studies that involved 277 participants and used various methodologies, including cross-sectional, observational, causal-comparative and case-control design. QoL was primarily assessed using the Q-TFA, with OI users generally reporting higher QoL scores, particularly in prosthesis use and problem reduction. Mobility was assessed using multiple instruments, including 6MWT, 10-MWT, and TUG test. OI users demonstrated improved mobility outcomes, such as longer distances walked in the 6MWT and faster TUG times, though results varied across studies. Conclusion: Overall, the OI offers notable benefits in specific aspects of QoL and mobility compared to SP for transfemoral prosthetic users.