Author/Editor		Burger, Helena; Marinček, Črt; Jaeger, Robert J
Title		Prosthetic device provision to landmine survivors in Bosnia and Herzegovina: outcomes in 3 ethnic groups
Type		članek
Source		Arch Phys Med Rehabil
Vol. and No.		Letnik 85, št. 1
Publication year		2004
Volume		str. 19-28
Language		eng
Abstract		Objective: To deterrnine differen.r.es in prosthetic provision, use, and effectiveness among unilateral lower-extremity amputees from 3 ethnic groups in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Design: Case series with a consecutive sample of patients seen in field clinics. Setting: Multiple field clinics in Bosnia and Herzegovina from October 1998 to May 2002. Participants: A total of 671 patients were examined, and information about their prosthetic history was recorded from observation or verbal responses. The majority of the amputations resulted from injuries inflicted by landmines. Interventions: Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures: Self-reported walking distance per day, prosthesis functionality (functional or nonfunctional as assessed by a physician and a prothetist), prosthesis status broken or nonbroken as assessed by a physician and a prothetist), and employment status. Results: Ethnic groups differed signiticantly in types of prostheses provided, functional status of the prostheses, and use of the prostheses for community ambulation. Conclusion: Prosthetic devices and delivery of rehabilitation services for unilateral lower-extremity amputees differed between ethnic groups. Despite these differences, functional prosthetic devices increased mobility. Persons in all 3 ethnic grcups with functional prostheses were more mobile than persons with nonfunctional prostheses. The employment rate was higher for people with functional prostheses.
Descriptors		AMPUTEES ARTIFICIAL LIMBS BLAST INJURIES ADULT SEX FACTORS PROSTHESIS FITTING TREATMENT OUTCOME BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA ETHNIC GROUPS EMPLOYMENT EXPLOSIONS