Comparison of Satisfaction with Below- and Above-the-Knee Prostheses in Patients with Amputation Due to Diabetic Foot.

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a very common medical condition with many macrovascular and microvascular complications. Neuropathy and peripheral vascular disease with external trauma are the main factors of foot ulcers in a diabetic patient. We aimed to investigate the aesthetic, weight, and functional satisfaction of prosthesis use depending on the level of amputation.

Methods: Forty-four patients were included in the study. The patients were divided into two groups after surgery according to level of amputation: below-the-knee (group 1) and above-the-knee (group 2) amputations. Those who had to be operated on again due to wound and stump problems and those who could not use prostheses due to being bedridden were excluded from the study.

Results: The mean ± SD age for group 1 was 66.8 ± 9.25 years and for group 2 was 71.25 ± 9.78 years. The mean ± SD Trinity Amputation and Prosthesis Experience Scales (TAPES) scores for groups 1 and 2, respectively, were as follows: aesthetic satisfaction, 7.43 ± 0.51 and 7.64 ± 0.56 (P = .234); weight satisfaction, 1.69 ± 0.48 and 1.57 ± 0.51 (P = .459); and functional satisfaction, 10.75 ± 0.78 and 6.75 ± 0.80 (P < .001).

Conclusions: No difference was found in the aesthetic and weight satisfaction of patients who had below- or above-the-knee amputation due to diabetic foot and used permanent prostheses.