Comparing OutcomeS of Through Knee and Above Knee Amputation (COSTAA)

NHS Trust

Status

Active, not recruiting

Conditions

Through Knee Amputation

Treatments

Other: Qualitative interviews and focus groups

Other: Functional mobility tests and questionnaires

Study type

Observational

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

NCT04120558

R2378

Details and patient eligibility

About

Major lower limb amputation is a life changing surgical procedure to treat complications of diabetes mellitus and peripheral vascular disease. The level of function after amputation is dependent on pre-morbid levels of activity, age, co-morbidities and the level of amputation. The level of amputation performed is determined by level of disease and surgical assessment. Below knee amputation provides the best functional outcomes due to the benefits of keeping the knee intact. When a below knee amputation is not possible, routine practice is to perform an above knee amputation. Greater challenges for rehabilitation present at this level due to the shorter lever. Amputation through the knee is less commonly performed despite its reported benefits which include a long mechanical lever arm, an endbearing stump and greater muscle control.

A recent systematic review recommends further comparison of through knee and above knee amputation. The recommended areas of research are gait biomechanics and quality of life for these patient groups. Therefore, the aim of this research is to compare and contrast the long-term functional mobility and quality of life outcomes of limb wearing through knee and above knee amputees. The study will be split into two workstreams, the first focusing on functional outcomes and the second focusing on quality of life using semi-structured interviews.

Enrollment

40 estimated patients

Sex

All

Ages

18+ years old

Volunteers

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Community dwelling adults aged 18 or over.
People who have had either a through-knee or above-knee amputation.
Unilateral amputees.
English speaking and cognitively be able to follow instructions and fill out questionnaires independently.

Exclusion criteria

People are unable to provide an informed consent.
People who have a below-knee amputation.
Unable to transfer with assistance of one.
Unable to walk more than 5 metres (ambulatory section workstream 1 only).
Individuals will be excluded from workstream 2 if they report another health condition with greater impact on their quality of life than their amputation.