Does diabetes affect stability in people with unilateral transtibial amputation?

Introduction/Objective. Currently, analysis of the stability of amputees with diabetes is lacking. The aim of this case study was to examine the effects of unilateral transtibial amputation on the stability and balance confidence of patients with below-knee amputation caused by trauma and diabetes. Methods. Seventeen subjects, 12 males and five females, with the average age of 51.47 ± 12.12 years, who use a unilateral transtibial prosthesis, were examined. The balance of 10 traumatic amputees (TTA) and seven diabetic amputees (TDA) was assessed by Activities-Specific Balance Confidence (ABC) scale, Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, and One-Legged Stance Test (OLST). Plantar pressure distribution was recorded using Gaitview AFA-50. Results. For 10 TTA and one TDA, ABC scores were > 80%, the mean value of the TUG test was 11 (range: 8.08–23 seconds). All the subjects could stand on the healthy leg, two women with diabetes were unable to stand on the prosthetic leg. The distribution of load between the healthy and the prosthetic leg showed higher overload on the healthy leg (average: 56.62%). Conclusion. The data from this case series describe stability problems of people with transtibial amputation. Plantar pressure distribution has the potential to provide information about the properties of stability in the amputees who use prosthesis