Evaluation of amputees

During 1978 the Queen Alia Fund registered all disabled persons in the East Bank of Jordan. This paper is intended to investigate the actual condition of a sample selected from those persons registered as amputees. The registration showed a total of 696 amputees and a sample of 100 patients was randomly selected from this group. This study explored the disability, its nature and location, physical and vocational rehabilitation received, and the functional capability of the amputee. The two most important causes which lead to the amputation were mine explosions and road accidents. 32 persons received physical rehabilitation and prosthesis was recommended for 56 persons. Only 9 patients received vocational rehabilitation. Final analysis of the data showed steady increase in the past two decades with a doubling of the number from the 1960s to the 1970s. Road accidents played a major role in this increase. It is interesting to note that males and educated persons tend to use their prosthesis more than females and illiterate persons. In conclusion vocational rehabilitation remains an important element missing from the management of amputees. More emphasis and effort should be directed toward this element in order to complete the picture of an effective rehabilitation of this group of disabled persons.