Assessing Mobility and Quality of Life Improvements in Amputees Using Advanced Prosthetic Devices: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Background: The integration of advanced technologies into prosthetic devices has opened new possibilities for enhancing mobility and quality of life in amputees. However, comprehensive evaluations comparing these advanced prosthetics to standard devices remain limited, indicating a need for robust, controlled investigations.

Objective: To assess the impact of advanced prosthetic devices on mobility and quality of life in amputees, utilizing a randomized controlled trial design.

Methods: This study enrolled 220 amputees, randomly assigned to either an advanced prosthetic group (110 participants: 75 males, 35 females) or a standard prosthetic group (110 participants: 81 males, 29 females). The Timed Up and Go (TUG) test and Amputee Mobility Predictor (AMP) were employed to measure mobility and quality of life at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months. Data analysis included mixed-model repeated measures ANOVA to evaluate the interaction between prosthetic type and time, considering confounding factors such as age, gender, and amputation duration.

Results: The advanced prosthetic group showed significant improvements in the TUG test, decreasing from 15.2 (SD=1.5) seconds at baseline to 13.2 (SD=1.3) seconds at 12 months. Their AMP scores increased from 24.1 (SD=2.5) to 28.8 (SD=2.3). Conversely, the standard prosthetic group's TUG test results decreased from 16.4 (SD=1.6) seconds to 14.5 (SD=1.4) seconds, and AMP scores rose from 22.5 (SD=2.6) to 26.0 (SD=2.4). All changes were statistically significant with p-values <0.05.

Conclusion: Advanced prosthetic devices significantly improve mobility and quality of life in amputees compared to standard prosthetics. These findings suggest that incorporating such technologies into clinical practice could greatly benefit amputees, though considerations regarding cost and accessibility remain critical.