USE OF PROSTHESIS AND RETURN TO WORK BY AMPUTEES INVOLVED IN TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS

Objective: To detect the use of a prosthetic leg and the return to work in amputees by traffic accidents (TA). Method: A case series by means of an interview with AT amputees who were registered between December 2002 and December 2004, after discharge from rehabilitation at the AACD/MG. The sample consisted of 26 amputees, 22 men and four women, mean age of 37.7 years. Fifteen amputations were above the knee and 11 below the knee, Eighteen (69.2%) people had completed elementary education. Results: All amputees received prostheses and 16 (61.5%) of them reported using it for walking. All subjects remained off work after the accident, and 16 (66.7%) remained off work by utilizing the Social Secutity, six (25%) retired due to disability and two (8.3%) retired due to age. Five of the people away by Social Security returned to work and three retired due to disability and age declared that they are active to supplement their retirement income. Conclusion: The use of prosthesis is generally for walking and the rate of return to work after rehabilitation is low. Low level of education and work qualifications may have been responsible for these results.