A one-year follow-up case series on gait analysis and patient-reported outcomes for persons with unilateral and bilateral transfemoral amputations undergoing direct skeletal fixation

Background: Direct skeletal fixation, a surgical technique enabling the attachment of an external prosthesis directly to the bone through a percutaneous implant, offers an enticing solution for patients with lower limb amputations facing socket-related issues. However, understanding of its impact on musculoskeletal function remains limited.

Methods: This study compares pre- and 1-year post-osseointegration surgery outcomes, focusing on patient-reported measures and musculoskeletal system function during level-ground walking. Two participants with unilateral transfemoral amputations and two participants with bilateral transfemoral amputations completed the questionnaire for transfemoral amputations (Q-TFA) and underwent gait analysis. Musculoskeletal modelling simulations were conducted.

Results: Results showed improved Q-TFA scores for all participants. Participants showed reduced amputated limb peak hip extension angles, flexion torques and contact forces at the push-off phase of the gait cycle. Post-operatively, hip adduction angles and abduction moments increased, indicating more natural gait patterns. Whilst one participant demonstrated increased post-operative walking speed, others walked more slowly.

Conclusions: The study revealed diverse adaptation patterns after one year in individuals with transfemoral amputations transitioning to bone-anchored prostheses. Additional longer-term data is necessary to enable generalization and clinical implications of these results.