[Transcutaneous Osseointegrated Prosthetic Systems (TOPS) for Transfemoral Amputees - A Six-Year Retrospective Analysis of the Latest Prosthetic Design in Germany].

PURPOSE

A retrospective analysis of clinical outcomes and complication rates of patients treated with the latest implant design of the so-called Endo-Exo-Femoral Prosthesis (EEFP) was performed. The aim is to gain specific information on long-term complications of this treatment-method.

METHODS

In January 2019, data of all transfemoral amputees who were treated with TOPS at an acute clinic in Schleswig-Holstein from 2010 to 2016 were retrospectively analysed. This was done with special consideration of postoperative complications. For this purpose, all examination findings from routine clinical follow-up examinations were used. The complications were divided into stoma problems, orthopaedic-technical (OT) problems, fractures and explantations. All EEFPs had the same implant design (3rd generation). This implant is currently the only TOPS in Germany that is clinically used. Descriptive statistics as well as ratio information about occurred complications were calculated.

RESULTS

A total of 68 implantations were performed during this period. Average observation time was 6.32 years (±2.16 years). The mean age of the patients was 51.84 years±12.12 years. Cause of amputation was mainly trauma (82,35%). Stoma-associated problems had the highest incidence (7%) among all observed patient-related complications and posed the greatest challenges during the rehabilitation process. Looking only at surgical complications, 81% had no complications at all. In total, 15% had technical problems, 6% had peri-prosthetic fractures, 7% had stoma problems and 3% had to be explanted due to infection.

CONCLUSION

The analysis of collected data shows that TOPS (here the 3rd generation EEFP) can be a successful alternative treatment method to shaft prostheses after transfemoral amputation. The indication should only be given after the failure of a shaft-prosthesis and contraindications must be comprehensively excluded. The greatest challenges in the rehabilitation process are the avoidance of stoma complications, infections and OT-problems. The rehabilitation of amputees treated with TOPS therefore requires an interdisciplinary, specialized rehabilitation team and lifelong rehabilitative care.