Lower Limb Amputation and Gait

Abstract The care of an individual with lower limb amputation requires many types of decisions, skills, and interventions ranging from the surgical techniques of amputation to the prescription of a prosthesis and the specialized training for optimal use of the prosthesis. Furthermore, pain management can pose challenges in terms of diagnosis and treatment as unique pain concerns such as phantom limb pain are common following amputation. Knowledge of proper residual limb care is important for the practitioner in order to properly educate patients and assure longitudinal compliance. Additionally, patients benefit from specialized training both before and after prosthesis delivery to assure that functional mobility is maximized. A thorough knowledge of prosthetic components is necessary to prescribe a prosthesis that will best meet the needs and aptitudes of the person with an amputation. These components include the socket, suspension type, pylon, prosthetic knee, and prosthetic foot. The components used will depend on the level of amputation and the functional goals of the patient. Despite the best efforts of the rehabilitation team, the patient may develop gait deviations that the practitioner should be able to identify and subsequently address with corrective measures to allow the patient to ambulate in the most safe and effective manner. This chapter addresses these issues in a systematic and thorough manner.