Disclosures: Brock Marrs, MD, PhD: No financial relationships or conflicts of interest

Objective: This retrospective cohort study examined the impact of utilizing a dynamic, body weight support system during the inpatient rehabilitation for patients with new below knee amputations in the acute post-surgical phase.

Design: Retrospective Cohort StudySetting : Inpatient Rehabilitation FacilityParticipants : For this study, 22 patients with new below knee amputations in the acute post-surgical phase of inpatient rehabilitation were studied. These patients had not yet begun pre-prosthetic shrinking and shaping and, therefore, did not have a prosthesis. Of the 22 BKA patients, 3 utilized a dynamic, body-weight support (DBWS) system for a portion of their rehab training, whereas the other 19 did not.

Interventions: In a dynamic, body-weight support system, the patient is harnessed to an overhead motorized pulley system that provides support equivalent to a user-defined percentage of the patient’s body weight. The DBWS system provides support and prevents falls while encouraging the patient to rely on their own strength and balance.

Main Outcome Measures: For this series, the Total FIM and Motor FIM scores were measured and recorded for each patient at admission and discharge.

Results: The FIM Motor scores increased from admission to discharge by an average of 141% for the 3 patients that utilized the DBWS system during training. Comparatively, the Motor FIM scores increased by an average of 85% for the 19 patients that did not utilize the DBWS system. Similarly, Total FIM scores increased 97% and 57%, respectively, for patients that used the DBWS system and those that did not.Conclusions: The BKA patients that utilized the DBWS system during their inpatient rehabilitation training outperformed BKA patients that did not, as evidenced by dramatic increases in Total FIM and Motor FIM scores. Providing additional support and stability to acute post-surgical below knee amputees through a dynamic, body-weight support system can improve rehabilitation outcomes.

Level of Evidence: Level III

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PM&R Meeting Abstracts - https://pmrjabstracts.org/abstract/a-dynamic-body-weight-support-system-improves-fim-scoring-of-acute-post-surgical-below-knee-amputees-participating-in-inpatient-rehabilitation/