According to research, starting prosthesis use at an early age reduces loss of self-confidence and psychological damage. Experts state that the remaining limb section in children continues to grow after amputation, and emphasize that the prosthesis to be applied should be comfortable and lightweight, as well as made of soft material to prevent wounds. Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Specialist Kübra Akkalay highlights that amputations negatively affect both the child and the child's family psychologically, pointing out that prostheses not produced in appropriate sizes cause more destructive effects on children.
Prostheses not produced in appropriate sizes negatively affect a child's life
Üsküdar Üniversitesi Faculty of Health Sciences, Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Department, Orthopedic Orthotics and Prosthetics Program Head Lecturer Kübra Akkalay made important assessments and shared her recommendations regarding the production and use of prostheses for children.
Early age use reduces loss of self-confidence
Kübra Akkalay stated that the amputation method, amputation level, and prosthesis application are very important because the remaining limb section in children will continue to grow after amputation, and said, “Children who will undergo amputation due to congenital reasons do not actually have a loss; every prosthesis made for them completes their body integrity and provides functionality. The state of non-acceptance is less common compared to acquired amputations. Recent research has observed that starting prosthesis use at an early age reduces loss of self-confidence and psychological damage.”
Children's prostheses should be comfortable and lightweight
Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Specialist Kübra Akkalay emphasized that children's prostheses should be comfortable and lightweight, and their axis should be in line with the anatomical axis, continuing her words as follows:
“Children's prostheses should provide good stability, not cause excessive sweating, not excessively irritate the skin, and soft materials should be used in their production to prevent redness and wounds. Patients undergoing amputation should be approached multidisciplinarily. It is important for the surgeon to evaluate the patient together with the Orthotics-Prosthetics Technician or Orthotist-Prosthetist and the physiotherapist who will perform pre- and post-prosthetic rehabilitation. The patient's general condition, amputation level, strength of the amputated limb, stump length, soft tissue condition of the stump, and joint range of motion are of great importance for prosthesis selection and rehabilitation. Complications seen in adults can also be observed in children. Complications that may occur after amputation can lead to frequent revisions in children. Since growth continues in children, the suitability of the prostheses for the child should be checked, and if necessary, prostheses should be changed annually.”
Amputations can negatively affect psychology
Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Specialist Kübra Akkalay, stating that amputations negatively affect both the child and the child's family psychologically, listed her recommendations as follows:
- The child and their family should be evaluated psychosocially,
- The child should be facilitated to continue their school life, which is the first step in their social development,
- Since wound care is important for prosthesis use, stump and prosthesis care should be thoroughly explained to families by specialists,
- Families should be informed to encourage children to perform these care routines,
- Care should be taken to prevent wounds on the children's stumps and the development of contractures in related joints,
- By making home arrangements, independence should first be ensured within the home and then in outdoor areas.
Prostheses produced with incorrect measurements negatively affect life
Emphasizing that prostheses not produced in appropriate sizes cause more destructive effects on children, Kübra Akkalay said, “A state of non-acceptance can be observed along with psychological problems. Due to improperly made prostheses, delays in rehabilitation, growth, and development may be seen. With prostheses not suitable for the child, the range and variety of movements decrease, while the effort expended increases. The child's ability to move independently decreases, and consequently, their social and school life are also negatively affected.”