Introduction

The loss of a lower limb due to amputation is often the end of a long period of illness for older patients [3, 6]. Therefore, it poses a physically as well as psychologically demanding situation [6, 18]. Rehabilitation of these patients is a challenge, but nevertheless indispensable in order to enable the amputees to participate in everyday life. A major part of this rehabilitation process is the provision of a fitting and easy to use prosthesis system [12]. When designing and developing a suitable prosthesis many different problems, such as pistoning, extensive rotation and translation, walking pattern, qualities of residual skin and soft tissue have to be taken into account [10, 11]. A major role in addressing these issues depends on selecting an appropriate suspension system [8, 9]. In the late 1980s, the USA and Iceland developed new models of silicone suspension systems, including the 3‑S system [7] and the Icelandic roll-on silicone socket (ICEROSS system, IRS [ICEROSS, Ossur, Reykjavik, Iceland]) [14] to address these problems. The effects of these systems have already been proven for transfemoral amputees [16] and even transtibial amputees [5]. Nevertheless, systematic reviews do not support liner systems as a general solution without reservation [4, 13]. This study of 75 transtibial amputees aimed to show the effect of prostheses fitted with a silicone suspension interface (ICEROSS, Ossur, Reykjavik, Iceland) on walking distance, satisfaction of use and duration of daily use in a large patient group.

Patients, material and methods

Material and methods

In this retrospective study the walking distances of 75 mostly geriatric transtibial amputees treated at an orthopedic rehabilitation center, were analyzed. Written informed consent was obtained from all participants. The patients were amputated in a hospital 4–8 weeks before admission to the rehabilitation center after wound healing and proper stump management were ensured. The reason for amputation was always chronic vascular problems and subsequent development of dry or wet gangrene. No subjects after amputation due to traumatic reasons were included. All patients were novel prosthesis users and provided primarily with prostheses with a rigid total contact socket augmented by a silicone interface system (IRS). The mean age of the subjects was 68 years (±9.6 years; range 43–87 years). Duration of stay at the rehab averaged 34 days (±8.9 days). The group consisted of 43 women and 32 men. Walking distance was estimated over a standard course commonly used in the rehabilitation center. To specify the walking distance, the patients’ performances were categorized into four groups based on distance traversed: 0–50 m, 50–100 m, 100–500 m, and >500 m. The change in walking distance was measured at admission, discharge and follow-up. The follow-up was 8.5 (±3.1) months after dismissal from the rehab stay, 54 patients could be included and 2 patient had died (Table 1). The rehab center was well known all over the country for rehabilitation after amputation. Most of the patients were older persons and often had limited means of contact opportunity, therefore,19 subjects could not be reached, which were lost to follow-up due to a lack of valid contact data. The measurement of satisfaction and time of daily use were collated with a standard questionnaire routinely used in the rehab center. It consisted of three gradations (satisfied, moderately satisfied, not satisfied), from which the patient should pick the one option, which depicted their subjective content with the supplied prostheses. Each amputee was examined clinically by an orthopedic surgeon of the rehab institution.

Table 1 Descriptive data of participating subjects
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Statistics

Group differences between male and female patients with respect to the walking distance were tested for significance by the nonparametric Mann-Whitney U‑test. Differences between time of admission, discharge and follow-up regarding the walking distance were statistically analyzed by the nonparametric Friedman test. The cut-off level for statistical significance was set at p < 0.05, 2‑tailed. For statistical comparisons, the distance categories were given the values 1–4. The difference between the assigned values were calculated for each participant and used as a measure for change in mobility between the points of follow-up. All statistical analyses were carried out by SPSS for Windows, version 11.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA).

Results

Walking distance and walking aids

To properly assess the ambulation performance, the patients were subdivided into four groups, regarding their maximal walking distance: 0–50 m, 50–100 m, 100 to 500 m, and >500 m. A significant improvement in mobility was definitely achieved by prosthetic provision during rehabilitation as can be observed by comparing the total numbers of patients advancing into superior groups (p = <0.001) (Table 2).

Table 2 Number of patients and their respective walking distances at admission, discharge and follow-up
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At admission more than 88% (66/75) of the subjects could not walk further than 100 m (Fig. 1a). This group could be reduced to 36% (27/75) at time of discharge (Fig. 1b).

Fig. 1
figure 1

a Number of patients sorted by walking distance at admission, b number of patients sorted by walking distance at discharge, c number of patients sorted by walking distance at follow-up

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Interestingly, when comparing the number of patients in the group with walking distance >500 m between time of discharge and follow-up, the percentage decreased from 33% (25/75) to 4% (2/54, p = <0.001). At follow-up, three patients did not use their prosthesis at all. In conclusion, significant differences with respect to the walking distance were found between the three times of evaluation (χ2 = 31.4; d = 2; p ≤ 0.0001). The shortest distances were observed at admission, and the longest distances at time of discharge. Furthermore, a statistical trend between males and females with respect to the walking distance could be found at time of follow-up (z = −1.759; p = 0.078). Males were more likely to walk longer distances than females. No significant differences in ambulatory performance between male and female patients were found at the times of admission (z = −0.710; p = 0.478) or discharge (z = −1.321; p = 0.187).

Time of use and satisfaction

While at rehab, the prosthesis was used by 62% (46/75) of the patients during the entire day, and 11% (8/75) for half of the day, 25% of the subjects (17/75) wore the device only for a few hours; 5% (4/75) completely neglected the prosthesis. At follow-up, 61% of the subjects (33/54) used the prosthesis the entire day, 11% (6/54) half of the day, 22% (12/54) only for a few hours and 6% (3/54) not at all. A share of 22% of the prostheses required some kind of repair within the observation period. Regarding acceptability of the supplied prostheses during rehab, 33% (25/75) of the amputees reported satisfaction, 57% (43/75) moderate satisfaction, and 9% (7/75) no satisfaction. At time of follow-up the numbers remained the same with 33% (18/54) satisfied, 57% (31/54) moderately satisfied, and 9% (5/54) not satisfied (Figs. 2 and 3).

Fig. 2
figure 2

a Number of patients sorted by duration of prosthesis use during rehab, b number of patients sorted by duration of prosthesis use at follow-up

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Fig. 3
figure 3

a Number of patients sorted by satisfaction with the supplied prosthesis at rehab, b number of patients sorted by satisfaction with the supplied prosthesis at follow-up

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The use of walking aids was reduced remarkably from the time of admission to the time of discharge as shown in Table 3. Especially the use of wheelchairs could be reduced significantly and an overall downgrade to lower levels of walking aids could be observed.

Table 3 Walking aids used at time of admission and time of discharge
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Discussion

Providing elderly or even geriatric patients with prostheses results in certain challenges that need to be addressed and resolved. Atrophic skin conditions with the possibility of stump skin breakdown, reduced capacity of wound healing because of multimorbidity and vascular or metabolic disease are only an excerpt of a various number of issues which have to be taken care of [8, 16]. In our study we present the results of a large cohort of transtibial amputees provided with a prosthesis outfitted with a silicon liner system (IRS).

To resolve some of these issues the silicone liner suspension systems were developed in the USA and Iceland in the late 1980s [7, 14]. These systems have a lot of advantages, such as good adaptation and adhesion onto the stump, an even force distribution to the prosthesis socket and enhanced comfort in comparison to other systems [2, 5]. Within our analysis of transtibial amputees, we were able to illustrate considerable improvement concerning ambulating distance during rehabilitation and provision with an IRS system at a low rate of necessary repairs compared to other interface systems used in the past. The dependence on walking aids and especially wheelchairs was significantly diminished, and the duration of daily use as well as the satisfaction with the prosthesis increased. One of the big advantages, which probably contributes to all of these findings, is the possibility of attaching the prosthesis while the patient is in a sitting position. This might seem to be a rather unimportant detail, but greatly facilitates the process of attachment for geriatric patients. It has to be taken into account that putting on a prosthesis while standing requires a certain skill and balance, therefore the sitting position with the IRS system offers a safe option for elderly people. The latest improvement of the IRS system consists of a hook and loop fastener (HOLO system), which not only facilitates donning and doffing even further, but also improves mechanical properties during fast gait [1].

Interestingly, at follow-up the group with distance ambulated >500 m, which was built up during rehabilitation, decreased. Yet patients reported similar rates of acceptance (33% satisfied and 57% moderately satisfied) and also a long time of daily use (entire day 61%). That leads to the assumption that the perceived reduction of walking-distance may be explained by reduced therapy and walking training. Nevertheless, systematic reviews exhibited a certain scepticism concerning the positive effects of silicone liner systems for transtibial amputees [4, 13].

The strengths of this study are the relatively high number of included subjects and homogeneous patient group, which consisted of mostly geriatric, multimorbid patients who were amputated solely because of non-traumatic reasons and were novel prosthetic users.

Limitations of our study are of course the retrospective study design and the lack of a control group. Moreover, the effects of physiotherapy and prosthetic outfitting were not defined separately.

In our study we were able to show a very good rehabilitation result regarding walking distance, comfort of wear and time of use. These facts support the overall tendency that the use of silicone liners, especially the IRS system, have been a milestone in prosthetic technological development and happened to be a well-established piece of prosthetic outfitting. Silicone liners as a gold standard of prosthetic to limb interface, are still under development. For example, existing problems with heat dissipation and consecutive sweating and compromised skin are topics of current research [17] as well as further improvement of prosthetic fitting [15].

Further studies have to be conducted, prospective and randomized and especially with control groups, to evaluate the definite role of silicone liner systems such as IRS for transtibial amputees.

Conclusion

Supplying elderly patients with IRS provides considerable benefits. The higher costs of purchase compared to other liner systems are compensated by a high satisfaction and comfort of wear which reduced subsequent expenditure because of lower frequencies of necessary adjustments, the use of additional walking aids and a high acceptability of the prostheses.