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HRD-81-144 1 (1981-09-22)

handle is hein.gao/gaobabckv0001 and id is 1 raw text is: 110 404 UNITED STATES GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE WASHINGTON, D.C. 20548 HUMAN RCOURC90 SEPTEMBER 22, 1981 B-204389 The Honorable Edward Madigan, George M. O'Brien, and Henry Waxman 116404 House of Representatives Subject: Issues Involved in Amputees' Use of Artificial Limbs (HRD-81-144) Your October 1, 1980, letter, cosigned by former Congressman Carter, asked us to study problems amputees encounter in adapting to prosthetic devices. You were especially concerned that many amputees may endure years of frustration and pain because the prosthetic industry may have fallen behind the times, medical personnel may not learn proper surgical procedures, or prosthetic practitioners may not receive adequate training. The enclosure to this letter contains the results of our dis- cussion with officials of several Federal and State agencies, in- dustry groups, and hospitals, as well as practitioners and patients. The amount or length of suffering accompanying an amputation differs by individual. Patients' reactions to amputation can be affected by the reason for the amputation, their age, and their general physical and mental health. Experts we interviewed told us that various conditions contribute to patient suffering, some of which cannot be prevented by surgery or a.prosthesis. For example, surgeons told us that daily stump changes, weight-bearing pressure applied to soft tissue, and the weight of the prosthesis often cause problems. Adequate data are not available to determine whether amputees routinely experience avoidable pain or to assess the effectiveness of efforts by health-care providers and the Federal Government to assist the amputee. Information we obtained indicates that much is being done for the amputee, but it does not show that existing medical and prosthetic knowledge is capable of eliminating all amputee pain. (401906)

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