Muscle Atrophy and Artery Shrinkage of Residual Limb After Trans-Femoral Amputation: A Morphological Study
Abstract Aim: After limb amputation, patients will face many complex postoperative problems. The pathogeny of these problems usually involves blood circulation disorders, vascular lesions and other angioneurotic issues. The correlation between blood flow/vessels and those residual limb problems like the most prevalent muscle atrophy is very importent. Method: Through the case study of eight unilateral trans-femoral amputees, this research performed the morphological index analysis of residual limb muscle atrophy, arterial shrinkage and their potential correlations. Results: The atrophy level of muscles and the shrinkage level of arteries were different. Overall, Different muscles have different atrophy. Compared with the prosthesis users, those cases without using prosthesis exhibited more severe muscle atrophy and arterial shrinkage in their residual limbs. For the correlation between muscle atrophy and arterial shrinkage on the basis of blood supply relationship, there was a positive correlation expressed only in the cases using prosthesis. Conclusion: Using a prosthesis could not only effectively achieve the functional compensation for residual limb, but also promote a joint adaptation of the muscular and arterial physiological state of both the sound and amputated limbs to the new gait pattern and body balance, as well as rehabilitation process.