Beyond the rigid dressing: Pre-prosthetic ambulation for the below knee amputee

Clinical experiences over four years with approximately 140 amputees have led to many unique innovations in clinical use of the rigid dressing. Modifications were introduced in response to individual patient needs. The average hospital stay for the VA amputee patient has been reduced by approximately 90 days, from 191.4 days to 101.8 days. The average age of the patient was 63.5 years with severe peripheral vascular disease. This time frame encompasses the entire rehabilitation process from time of amputation to complete functional ambulation with prostheses. For amputees requiring only the pre-prosthetic and prosthetic training, rehabilitation time can be reduced by more than 50 per cent. The use of cast modifications, patient education, and the incorporation of BK psychomotor skills early in daily activities have led to this reduction. The most significant innovation in clinical use of the BK rigid dressing must be considered its utilization for pre-prosthetic ambulation.