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JOURNAL, VOLUME 1, ISSUE 2, 2018; ABSTRACT, ORAL PRESENTATION AT THE AOPA’S 101ST NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, SEPT. 26-29, VANCOUVER, CANADA, 2018. DOI: 
https://doi.org/10.33137/cpoj.v1i2.32034                                                                             

 

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OPEN  ACCESS 

 

AOPA’S 101 ST NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ABSTRACTS, SEPTEMBER 26-29, VANCOUVER, CANADA, 2018 
 

ABSTRACT (ORAL PRESENTATION) 

BACK PAIN AND OSTEOARTHRITIS AS SECONDARY DISABILITIES OF LOWER 

LIMB AMPUTATION 

Eva Pröbsting1*, Andreas Kannenberg2, Siegmar Blumentritt3 

1 OttoBock HealthCare GmbH, Germany.  
2 Otto Bock Healthcare LP, USA.  
3 PFH Göttingen, Germany.  

* Email: Eva.Proebsting@ottobock.de 
DOI: https://doi.org/10.33137/cpoj.v1i2.32034  

 

INTRODUCTION 

Long-term damages after lower extremity amputation 

have previously been analysed in three systematic 

reviews 5–7 showing that amputees have a higher risk for 

developing knee and hip osteoarthritis on the sound side. 

The altered gait pattern appears to increase the load on 

the sound side.1–3 This paper analysed the extent to which 

the above described assumption is supported by the 

scientific literature with specific focus on the risk of 

developing back pain and osteoarthritis in amputees. 

METHODS 

A systematic literature search (EMBASE, Medline, 

Journal of Prosthetics and Orthotics database) was 

conducted for publications that had investigated changes 

caused by amputations. Furthermore, the references of 

identified publications were also scanned for pertinent 

publications. All suitable articles were qualitatively 

analyzed and the available quantitative results were 

summarized. 

RESULTS 

The search identified 20 relevant studies,4-23 reporting 

back pain and 14 studies, 5-8, 11, 13, 20, 24-30 on osteoarthritis. 

The prevalence of back pain is increased for amputees in 

comparison to the able-bodied population. Furthermore, 

amputees suffer more often from clinical signs of knee 

and hip osteoarthritis. Nevertheless, the prevalence of 

radiographic signs is increased for the sound knee of the 

amputees. There are different reasons given in the 

literature for this increased risks. The altered gait 14, 17 and 

leg length discrepancies6, 11, 13, 20 seems to have a big 

influence on the back pain. For the increased prevalence 

of the osteoarthritis, these parameters 6, 11, 27, 28 as well as 

hopping 28 and standing without the prosthesis28 are 

contributing factors. 

 

 

 

 
 

Figure 1. Quantitative summary of the prevalence of back pain 

and arthritis. 

CONCLUSION 

It may be possible to reduce the risks of back pain and 

osteoarthritis with novel prosthetic components and by 

optimising prosthetic fitting. On one hand, an optimised 

prosthesis will be used more regularly. On the other 

hand, it will be exposed to greater loads and therefore the 

load to the locomotor system could be distributed more 

evenly amongst both legs. Both aspects would result in a 

more physiological loading of the locomotor system. 

SIGNIFICANCE 

It is often assumed that leg amputations result in a greater 

risk of degenerative changes to the locomotor system.24 

Furthermore in one-on-one interviews amputees report 

on their fear of these changes. Therefore, this paper 

analysed the potential risk of various degenerative 

diseases in amputees. 

https://doi.org/10.33137/cpoj.v1i2.32034
mailto:Eva.Proebsting@ottobock.de
https://doi.org/10.33137/cpoj.v1i2.32034


 

 

Pröbsting E, Kannenberg A, Blumentritt S. BACK PAIN AND OSTEOARTHRITIS AS SECONDARY DISABILITIES OF LOWER LIMB AMPUTATION. CANADIAN PROSTHETICS & ORTHOTICS 
JOURNAL, VOLUME 1, ISSUE 2, 2018; ABSTRACT, ORAL PRESENTATION AT THE AOPA’S 101ST NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, SEPT. 26-29, VANCOUVER, CANADA, 2018. DOI: 
https://doi.org/10.33137/cpoj.v1i2.32034                                                                             

 

2 

 
OPEN  ACCESS 

 

AOPA’S 101 ST NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ABSTRACTS, SEPTEMBER 26-29, VANCOUVER, CANADA, 2018 
 

ABSTRACT (ORAL PRESENTATION) 

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Pröbsting E, Kannenberg A, Blumentritt S. BACK PAIN AND OSTEOARTHRITIS AS SECONDARY DISABILITIES OF LOWER LIMB AMPUTATION. CANADIAN PROSTHETICS & ORTHOTICS 
JOURNAL, VOLUME 1, ISSUE 2, 2018; ABSTRACT, ORAL PRESENTATION AT THE AOPA’S 101ST NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, SEPT. 26-29, VANCOUVER, CANADA, 2018. DOI: 
https://doi.org/10.33137/cpoj.v1i2.32034                                                                             

 

3 

 
OPEN  ACCESS 

 

AOPA’S 101 ST NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ABSTRACTS, SEPTEMBER 26-29, VANCOUVER, CANADA, 2018 
 

ABSTRACT (ORAL PRESENTATION) 

 29. Struyf et al. The prevalence of osteoarthritis of the intact 

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DISCLOSURE 

Eva Pröbsting and Andreas Kannenberg are full time 

employees of the OttoBock Health Care GmbH. 

https://doi.org/10.33137/cpoj.v1i2.32034

