The role of classical risk factors for knee osteoarthritis in unilateral transtibial amputation

The study aimed to review the literature on the classical risk factors for knee osteoarthritis and their possible role in the development of this pathology in patients with unilateral transtibial amputation in terms of potential rehabilitation prospects. A search of publications was carried out using PubMed databases of the US National Center for Biotechnology Information and the website of the Elsevier publishing house. Well-established increased risk factors for knee osteoarthritis are old age, female gender, lower limb muscle weakness, low or excessive physical activity, overweight, a history of knee joint injury or surgery, chronic knee pain. These factors are common for disabled persons with unilateral transtibial amputation, which, combined with specific mechanical factors, makes these persons more vulnerable to the development and progression of osteoarthritis. Programs aimed at eliminating modifiable risk factors for the development of knee osteoarthritis can contribute to the preservation of knee joint function in the long term and improve the quality of life of persons with unilateral transtibial amputation. This requires the well-coordinated efforts of a multidisciplinary team, as well as the participation of the disabled persons themselves. Identification and management of the potentially modifiable classical risk factors for the development of knee osteoarthritis are one of the promising pathways of rehabilitation of persons with unilateral transtibial amputation.

Postural Control Strategies and Balance-Related Factors in Individuals with Traumatic Transtibial Amputations

Mechanisms behind compromised balance control in people with transtibial amputation need to be further explored, as currently little is known specifically about postural control strategies in people with traumatic transtibial amputation (tTTA). The aim of this study is to assess automatic and voluntary postural control strategies in individuals with unilateral tTTA compared to those in control subjects and to define the effect of balance-related factors on these strategies. Automatic posture reactions and volitional motion toward given direction using standardized posturographic protocols (NeuroCom) of the Motor Control Test (MCT) and Limits of Stability (LOS) were assessed in eighteen participants with tTTA and eighteen age-matched controls. Compared to the controls, the participants with tTTA bore less weight on the prosthetic leg (p < 0.001) during the MCT and had reduced inclination toward the prosthetic leg (p < 0.001) within the LOS. In the tTTA group, the weight-bearing symmetry and the inclination toward the prosthetic leg (p < 0.05) was positively correlated with prosthesis use duration (p < 0.05). The current study indicates that decreased utilization of the prosthetic leg in tTTAs represents adaptive postural control strategy, but as prosthesis use duration increased, the engagement of the prosthetic leg improved.