Disability and rehabilitation
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To benchmark the psychological state and physical rehabilitation of patients who have sustained limb loss as a result of terrorist activity in Northern Ireland and to determine their satisfaction with the period of primary prosthetic rehabilitation and the artificial limb. ⋯ Most patients felt that the period of physical rehabilitation had been adequate; those who did not were more likely to be having ongoing psychological problems. A high percentage of patients continue to have psychological problems and stump pain.
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To examine the effect of intramuscular injection of botulinum toxin type A [Dysport] to reduce relative overactivity of the vastus lateralis [VL] muscle, in conjunction with re-training of vastus medialis [VM] muscle as an adjunct to rehabilitation for chronic anterior knee pain. ⋯ These pilot data provide preliminary support for the role of Dysport as an adjunct to non-surgical management of individuals with chronic anterior knee pain. Larger double blind, randomized, placebo-injection controlled studies of this novel approach to improving patellofemoral mechanics are needed to establish the efficacy of this intervention.