Prevalence of secondary prosthesis use in lower limb prosthesis users

Abstract

Purpose Prostheses designed for daily use are often inappropriate for high-level activities and/or are susceptible to water damage and mechanical failure. Secondary prostheses, such as activity-specific or back-up prostheses, are typically required to facilitate uninterrupted participation in desired life pursuits. This study estimated the prevalence of secondary prosthesis use in a large, national sample of lower limb prosthesis users (LLPUs). Methods We conducted a secondary analysis of survey data from three cross-sectional studies that assessed mobility in LLPUs. Descriptive statistics were used to determine the percentage of secondary prosthesis users and percentages of LLPUs that used different type(s) of secondary prosthesis(es). Secondary prosthesis users and non-users were compared to identify differences in participant characteristics between groups. Results Of participants in the analysis (n = 1566), most (65.8%) did not use a secondary prosthesis. The most common secondary prosthesis types were back-up (19.2%) and activity-specific prostheses (13.5%). Secondary prosthesis users differed significantly from non-users with respect to gender, race, and other characteristics. Conclusions Results suggest that secondary prosthesis use for most LLPUs is limited and may differ based on users’ demographic and clinical characteristics. Future research should determine how LLPUs’ health-related quality-of-life outcomes are affected by access to and use of secondary prostheses. Implications for Rehabilitation Secondary prostheses, including activity-specific, back-up, and shower prostheses, have the potential to improve function, mobility, and participation for people who use lower limb prostheses. Most lower limb prosthesis users do not use secondary prostheses, and access to these devices may be related to users’ demographic and clinical characteristics. Rehabilitation professionals play a key role in facilitating prosthesis users’ access to secondary prostheses and should advocate for those who need them.