Aftab Ahmad, Hazrat Islam, Irfan Ullah.
A study to Observe the Incidence of Flexion Contracture at Knee Joint After Below Knee Amputation.
J Riphah Coll Rehab Sci Jan ;6(1):21-3.

Background: Amputation is the surgical removal of limb or other appendage of the body; generally, amputations are performed for life threatening disease or pain, when all other treatments failed. The goal of the amputation is to preserve life and improve function and general health. Having a limb amputated is a life changing episode with potentially devastating consequences for every aspect of life, not only physical functioning but also psychosocial. Objective: To observe the incidence of flexion contracture at knee joint after below knee amputation. Methodology: This study was cross-sectional study and data of 87 sample size was collected through convenience sampling technique, by using self-made questionnaire, from PIPOS Peshawar and Helping Hand Rehabilitation Center Mansehra. The data was collected from participants in the mentioned institutes from March 2015 to October 2015. Data was analyzed by descriptive statistic using SPSS version 23. Results: Out of total, 69 were male and the rest were female. The mean age was 44.5 years. About 66 (75.86%) patients had normal ROM at knee joint, 21 (24.13%) patients had contracture at knee joint. About 6 (6.89%) patients out of 21 knee contracture patients had fixed flexion contracture of more than 20 degrees at knee joint even after regular physiotherapy. Conclusion: The study shows that a considerable percentage (24.13%) of patients has developed flexion contracture at knee joint after below knee amputation. Contractures after amputation generally develop as a result muscle imbalance, fascial tightness, from protective withdrawal reflex into knee flexion or as a result of faulty positioning such as prolonged sitting with flexed knee or placing the residual limb over pillow. Keywords: Below Knee Amputation, Knee Flexion Contracture, Prosthesis, Rehabilitation.

PakMediNet -Pakistan's largest Database of Pakistani Medical Journals - http://www.pakmedinet.com