The effect of new method of suspension on quality of life, satisfaction, and suspension in patients with finger prostheses

Abstract

Background: The use of a finger prosthesis following finger amputation is a common approach that is linked to many factors.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a new method of suspension on quality of life, satisfaction, and suspension in these patients.

Study design: Quasi-experimental.

Method: A total of 24 patients with finger amputation and 12 healthy subjects as control group participated in this study. Two types of finger prostheses with conventional suction suspension and new method suspension were provided. A force gauge was used to evaluate suspension force along with a World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF questionnaire instrument. Satisfaction of the prosthesis was also evaluated using a visual analog scale.

Results: There was significant difference in quality of life assessment between the patient group and healthy control group, but there was no statistical difference (p > 0.05) between the two patients groups at baseline and after prosthesis use. Using finger prosthesis improved all domains after prosthesis wearing in patients with finger amputations. There were significant differences (p < 0.05) between the two types of prosthesis in terms of suspension and satisfaction.

Conclusion: Wearing the prosthesis with the new method of suspension had an effective role in terms of providing suspension and an increase in satisfaction in patients with finger amputation.

Clinical relevance: Patients with finger amputation usually use a prosthesis with a simple suspension technique, yet many of these patients experience atrophy and subsequently loss of appropriate suspension. This paper presents a new method of suspension and showed that using this approach improved satisfaction and suspension in patients with finger amputation.

Keywords: Quality of life; finger amputation; satisfaction; suspension force.