Prostheses for a person of purpura fulminans with quadruple limb amputations

Abstract

We reported on the prosthetic rehabilitation of a person with purpura fulminans (PF) who underwent quadruple amputation. A patient was a 57-years-old man, who suffered from PF with symmetrical peripheral gangrene of the upper and lower limbs. He underwent quadruple amputation (bilateral transradial (TR)/bilateral transtibial (TT) amputation). During the rehabilitation program, we faced the prosthesis-related challenges : restoration of locomotion and self-donning/-doffing of lower limb prostheses. To manage such challenges, he required special modification for their prostheses and the use of assistive devices. He acquired the ability to use the upper limb prostheses and developed a prosthetic gait without any serious medical problems. We have experienced rehabilitation of two patients with PF before. Compared to the previous two cases, the rehabilitation program was successfully performed in this case because he was a person with TR and TT amputation and there were no physical (range of motion and muscle strength) or dermatological problems on his residual limbs, and we could use our own experience to adapt appropriate prostheses for the persons with quadruple amputation.