Rehabilitation of Partial Hand Amputations in Pakistan

Abstract

Objective: To describe prosthetic/cosmetic rehabilitation of partial hand amputations.

Study Design: Case series.

Place and Duration of Study: Out Patient Department (OPD) of the Rehabilitation Department Combined Military Hospital Multan from Jul to May 2020.

Methodology: Patients with partial hand amputations, due to any cause, reporting to OPD of Rehabilitation Department in CMH Multan were included. Demographic data (age, gender, education), cause, type and duration of injury and cosmetic intervention were documented.

Results: A total of 10 patients were recruited. All the participants were males. The mean age of the patients was 34.1 ± 2.8 years. The average duration of amputation was 5.2 ± 1.7 years. The most common cause of amputation was blast injury (n=3), followed by injury with heavy machinery (n=2), firearm injury (n=2), fall from the train (n=1), electric injury by high tension wire (n=1), and frostbite (n=1). The type of amputation included: left transmetacarpal with thumb sparing (n=3), ray amputation of the right index finger (n=3), right transmetacarpal with thumb sparing (n=1), ray amputation of the right middle finger (n=1), amputation left partial thumb and index finger (n=1), the right fourth and fifth finger amputation (n=1). All the patients could carry out activities of daily living even without a prosthesis. Ottobock silicon finger fillers with cosmetic
sleeves were provided to all the patients.

Conclusion: Aesthetically acceptable silicon finger fillers are the mainstay of rehabilitation of hand amputations in lower-middle-income countries with poor access to rehabilitation.