Technical Report: Gait Performance at Two Speeds and Carrying Capacity by Men with an Osteomyoplastic Transfemoral Limb and Comparable Controls

Introduction: With advances in surgical approach like osteomyoplastic amputation, it is unknown whether outcomes of walking at different speeds or carrying performance by men with an osteomyoplastic transfemoral limb (OTFL) are comparable with those of intact controls. Materials and Methods: Otherwise healthy men with unilateral OTFL and intact controls consented to participate. All were independent walkers without history of diabetes or other dysvascular condition. All underwent 2-minute walk tests (2MWTs) at self-paced and brisk-paced speeds and 25-ft carry-to-capacity testing as part of a multiyear work performance study. For the current report, investigators compared walking and carrying baseline outcomes between OTFL and control groups. Results: Six men with OTFL (mean age, 33.7 +/- 14.8 years) and 20 controls (mean age, 31.7 +/- 11.1 years) completed the study. No initial differences between groups were found in age, height, weight, heart rate, blood oxygen saturation, hemoglobin A(1c), overall reported pain, or report of perceived exertion scores. However, the OTFL group walked shorter mean distances at self-paced (137.2 +/- 18.1 m) and brisk-paced (167.8 +/- 20.3 m) 2MWTs than the controls did (self-paced, 155.7 +/- 19.9 m, P = 0.015; brisk paced, 211.7 +/- 3.0 m, P < 0.0001) and demonstrated less 25 ft-carry capacity (18.1 +/- 9.7 kg) than the controls did (26.8 +/- 3.1 kg; P = 0.001). Reported pain by the OTFL group was greater only during carry testing (P < 0.046). Conclusions: Despite receiving similar, well-fitted prosthetic limbs and standard rehabilitation after osteomyoplastic amputation, the OTFL group demonstrated lower walking and carrying capacities than a comparable control group. Results may reflect that the OTFL group may still be at risk of injury, demonstrating the need for further investigation of gait and other work performance outcomes by work-eligible men with OTFL and standard rehabilitation approaches.