Half man, half prosthesis: the rehabilitation of people with hemicorporectomy – case series

Description of cases

Case 1 (Figure 2) - 34 years old, male, five years of schooling, single, without children, without comorbidities, suffered a traumatic spinal cord injury due to firearm injury at the age of 12 (spinal cord injury by firearm injury, level T9, American Spinal Cord Injury Association - ASIA - A), with chronic anemia and recurrent urinary infections, evolving with invasive squamous cell carcinoma at a chronic pressure ulcer site, diagnosed in 2012. He was submitted to 5 surgeries for tumor resection, colostomy, ureterostomy, until L4-level hemicorporectomy was performed in June 2016. Before hemicorporectomy, there was an extensive irregular, ulcerated and infiltrative lesion in the perineal region, compatible with the neoplastic process, but its delimitation is impaired due to the possibility of overlapping the inflammatory/infectious condition; abdominopelvic lymph nodes/lymph nodes, compatible with involvement secondary to the underlying disease; liquid collection in the subcutaneous layer of the lateral aspect of the right hip, a probable inflammatory/infectious process. On physical examination, he presented normal range of motion, with grade V strength of upper limbs and trunk with no sensitivity below the navel, currently weighing 37.7 kg (previous weight before hemicorporectomy = 48 kg; after the surgery, his weight was 28 kg). As a means of locomotion, the patient used a manual wheelchair.

Figure 2. Case 1: before and after hemicorporectomy.

Case 2 (Figure 3), 40 years old, male, 11 years of schooling, married, without children, with paraplegia due to lumbosacral myelomeningocele with ventriculo-peritoneal shunt (currently obstructed), without other comorbidities, he noticed the appearance of pressure ulcers in the gluteal/sacral region 17 years earlier. After therapeutic failure when performing surgeries, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, the surgical procedure of hemicorporectomy was performed, without complications. On physical examination, the patient had a tonic torso with a moderately flaccid lower portion, low coverage of soft tissues, with bony prominence of the lumbar spine very evident, which causes pain when sitting. On physical examination, the patient presented an orifice with a serous discharge in the terminal scar, irregular, erythematous, closed and adhered to the bone support. He had a single stoma without prolapse with wet colostomy for excrement and urine. He presented abdominal muscles with voluntary motor control despite weakness, currently weighing 37.7 kg (previous weight before hemicorporectomy = 48 kg). After the surgery, he presented a terminal portion of the lumbar spine on the abdomen, with soft tissue covering without a muscle pad, with fibrosis and slender loops, a small gastric hernia by sliding, mural thrombi in the distal aorta. As a means of locomotion, the patient used a manual wheelchair.

Figure 3. Case 2: terminal aspect of the stump after hemicorporectomy.

The both cases presented with chronic pressure ulcer in the gluteal region, with failure of clinical and surgical treatments, which evolved with neoplastic transformation (squamous cell carcinoma - Marjolin’s ulcer). The cases were submitted to L4 hemicorporectomy (Figure 4), at 34 years of age and 40 years of age, respectively, with the aim of preserving life, after extensive discussion and acceptance by patients.

Figure 4. X-ray after hemicorporectomy. To the right, the Xray of case 1 and to the left, the Xray of case 2.

At the initial evaluation, the upper limbs were unchanged in good general condition, with ostomies for the elimination of faeces and urine (note in Figure 3C the capacity and strength of the upper limbs to support the trunk). The distal portion of the trunk (residual limb) had no sensation due to spinal cord injury, so there is a risk for pressure ulcers.

In both cases, the level of amputation was below the area of preservation of sensitivity, thus maintaining the major risk factor for the development of pressure ulcers, according to the criteria of the Wheelchair Service Training Package (WSTP) basic level of World Health Organization (WHO),^{19, 20} as shown in Figure 5.

Figure 5. Risk factors for pressure ulcers according WSTP-WHO.

Rehabilitation treatment

The cases were rehabilitated in a similar way, with the following objectives:

For each objective, the assistive products most appropriate to the clinical need and environmental characteristics of use²⁰ were selected, together with the patients’ wishes, as shown in Figure 6. For social interaction, there was no need for a prosthesis, but the patients wanted to appear in person using prostheses only.

Figure 6. Organization chart of patients’ goals and desires with their most appropriate assistive product.

To comply with the proposed objectives, the rehabilitation treatment was divided into two phases: pre-prosthetic and prosthetic.

Pre-prosthetic phase

At this stage, patients received guidelines for the prevention of musculoskeletal injuries and skin wounds. Questions about changes in thermal regulation, risks of hypervolemia, especially in venous hydration, with risk of acute pulmonary edema (due to the lower total body surface area) were explained. They were also trained in stoma care and regular testosterone replacement (gonads were removed).

Hemicorporectomy mobility can be achieved with a self-propelled manual wheelchair, motorized wheelchair or prosthesis. The use of each modality depends on the patient’s physical need or environmental situation.²⁰ In situations of indoor mobility for flat paved terrain for short distances with the patient in good clinical condition, prosthesis is an option.

For the mobility of short to moderate distances, indoor or outdoor paved, in which the patient needs agility with energy conservation, the use of the manual wheelchair is the best option.^21–23 The motorized wheelchair for long to moderate distances for outdoor or indoor environments of large dimensions where energy conservation and speed is needed, is a good solution.

As there are no more lower limbs to counterbalance the forces, a ballast was added to the structure of the footrest of the wheelchair to counteract the forces that predispose to a subsequent fall (Figure 7). A digitized full contact cushion was performed, with pressure in the distal portion of the trunk that touches the cushion not exceeding capillary perfusion pressure (30 mm Hg) (24.25), as shown in Figure 8.

Figure 7. In The folding wheelchair with short distance between the rear and front axles.

In B provisional ballast test with ankle dumbbells for counterbalance of forces. In C ballast solution adapted to the wheelchair’s footrest.

Figure 8. A. Scanning the patient’s seat in case 2; B. Scanned cushion; C. Wheelchair with digitized cushion and catenary base (a rounded cut out at the base of the cushion that comes in contact with the canvas seat of the chair that keeps the upper surface of the cushion aligned in the case of the sealing of the chair seat canvas); D. Case 1 patient in a wheelchair with the digitized cushion. Note the alignment and body stability provided by the digitized cushion that obeys the terminal contours of the patient’s trunk.

Regardless of the assistive product, the user interface with the equipment (cushion, back or fitting) is of vital importance given the maintenance of pressure injury risk factors: alteration of sensitivity, previous injury and sweat moisture due to the thermoregulatory disturbance by smaller body surface for heat exchange, as shown in Figure 5. As pressure is a function inversely proportional to the area, the larger the contact area the lower the pressure, which was achieved by digitizing the entire contact surface with the patient and making equipment total contact, also avoiding the action of shear and friction forces.

As it is a wheelchair with a canvas seat, with a tendency to sealing, a catenary cut was made at the base of the cushion, which when accommodating itself in the concavity formed by the sealed canvas of the seat, rectifies the upper surface of the cushion, providing a flat base for the patient to sit²⁰ (Figure 7C). In the case of the backrest, in addition to the full contact, an angle of 10 degrees between the seat and backrest (open angle between seat and backrest) was performed to reduce the weight unloading in the terminal portion of the trunk (amputated area), Figure 8A.

Patients have effective adaptive resources, but both had difficulties in the process of grieving and restructuring their body image. Regarding family dynamics, patient 1 refers well-established emotional support by his mother, brother and girlfriend. Patient 2 has good support from his mother and his brother to carry out the activities of daily living.

Patients had high expectations regarding the fitting and rehabilitation process. After understanding the phases required for fitting, the process of acceptance and adherence to treatment was easier. The objectives established by psychology for the rehabilitation process were: to investigate and work on the patient’s affective dynamic aspects that may interfere in the rehabilitation process; to provide emotional support and to assist in the planning and organization of future plans aiming a greater well-being, prevention of new disabilities and a better quality of life. Therefore, during the entire process of rehabilitation, there were no adverse or unanticipated events.

Prosthetic phase

The prosthetic challenge was to have a fitting that would allow the coupling of artificial limbs without generating distal pressure and risk for new pressure injuries. A mold was developed under full contact, with partial discharge of body weight on the thoracic wall (Figure 9).

Figure 9. Making and fitting the basket socket type fitting.

In A and B, a vest with a body weight suspension system was installed on plaster splints to make the full contact mould. In C and D we have proof of prosthetic fitting with holes for ostomies.

Full contact plus weight bearing on the rib cage allowed relief of distal pressure in the terminal area of the trunk (residual limb), ventilatory dynamics and pressure limitation in the terminal area of the trunk less than 20 mmHg.^24,25

This was achieved through a mold performed with the patient in body weight suspension, controlled by measuring the distal pressure in the residual limb up to the limit of 20 mmHg of distal discharge (Figure 9A and B). All of these solutions result from the maintenance of risk factors for recurrence of wounds.

Free hip prosthetic joints were installed with gravity lock, knee with manual lock and SACH foot (Figure 10). The patients only needed eight training sessions to conquer the prosthesis mastery for reciprocated standard gait with walker with anterior wheels, for a maximum of 20 meters in a flat, paved and unobstructed environment.

Figure 10. In A prosthesis in alignment on the workshop bench, in B test (fitting) with the patient.

In the end, both patients use the prosthesis more for aesthetic reasons of social presentation than for everyday functional mobility, which happens preferably in a manual or motorized wheelchair with the prosthesis in a sitting posture (Figure 11).

Figure 11. A: motorized wheelchair with prosthesis. B: Manual wheelchair without using the prosthesis. Note the stability of the trunk allowing greater reach of the upper limbs in B, C and D.

Functional results and satisfaction of each assistive product

The patients received a manual wheelchair, a motorized wheelchair (motorized wheelchair model B400 Ottobock®) and prostheses so that they could choose the most appropriate equipment for the terrain, the patient’s need or the day-to-day situation.²⁰

For each assistive product added, patient satisfaction with QUEST 2.0 and functionality through the FIM were evaluated, as shown in Table 1. It is noted that the standard wheelchair (available on the market) in which rehabilitation started, promotes mobility, but clinically did not control the risk of pressure injuries and falls.

The manual wheelchair with a digitalized full contact cushion, with weight counterweight in the footrest (Figure 7B, C), promoted an increase in function with clinical safety and prevention of falls and recurrence of wounds. The motorized wheelchair with the same type of cushion did not impact functionality and the prosthesis decreased the total FIM score by 25 points in Case-1 and by 27 points in Case-2.

The satisfaction of Case-1 with assistive products, assessed by QUEST 2.0, was maximum for all equipment (maximum of 5 points) and Case-2 revealed greater satisfaction for the manual wheelchair with digitized full contact cushion (4.75 points), followed by the motorized wheelchair (4.5) and finally the prosthesis (3.42 points), as shown in Table 1.

Funcitionality, quality of life and social inclusion results

Rehabilitation improved quality of life (assessed by WHOQOL-bref) and functional capacity (measured by FIM), as shown in Table 2. There was a gain of 11 points in the FIM, that is, 11.46% in the initial FIM, and 1.78% in WHOQOL-bref for Case-1. For Case-2, there was a gain of 5.88% in FIM (increase of six points) and 19.25% in WHOQOL-bref.

The function measured by the FIM at the beginning and at the end of the rehabilitation is shown in Table 3, where it is noted that in Case-1 the biggest changes happen in the items Social interaction (gain of five points), followed by Locomotion (walk/wheelchair) and Transfers to a bed/chair and toilet (gain of two points in each). In Case 2, the gain occurs in the same areas (2 points for each area) evenly with the rehabilitation.

Table 4 shows the evolution of quality of life with the rehabilitation process. In Case-1, there is a negative assessment (worsening) related to the Physical domain, with the greatest perception of improvement in the Social Relations domain. In Case-2, on the contrary, the greatest perception of improvement was in the Physical domain (6.86 points).

Twelve descriptors from the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) related to social inclusion were selected, which were qualified according to Figure 1. The result is shown in Table 5 which reveals that in Case-1 except for the descriptor of public transport passenger, there was an improvement in social integration. This patient has functionality to sit, move at home and in the community. Currently, he drives an adapted car, works as a disc jockey (DJ) (Figure 12), gives motivational lectures, organizes parties, becoming an entrepreneur and employing people. He has a married life, bought a house and lives independently without the help of caregivers, being able to support himself and generate income not for himself, his family and employees.

Figure 12. In A the complete prosthesis, in B patient using the prosthesis in a motorized wheelchair, in an orthostatic position (C) and next to his DJ equipment (D).

Case-2 (Figure 13) showed functional gains for sitting, home mobility (moving around within the home), relationship with the goods and services market, informal relationships, work (paid) and leisure activities. It maintained restrictions on participation in aspects related to community mobility (individual or collective, as a passenger or driver) and for intimate relationships. This patient returned to work as a graphic designer, resumed studies and undertook digital services in the financial and stock market.

Figure 13. Case 2 with walking with a walker and prosthesis on flat ground.

Despite his financial success, environmental aspects of the city where he lives hinder his greater participation (lack of public transport, of streets properly paved for wheelchair users and the presence of unfavorable geographic relief with steep and irregular hills and valleys). In addition, he got divorced and started living with his sick mother, assuming the role of caregiver (before he was cared for and became caregiver), limiting his time to dedicate himself to outdoor social activities, as shown in Table 5.

Categorizing functionality by ICF into 2 groups of Qualifiers 3 + 4 (Severe + Complete) and Qualifiers 1 + 2 (None/absent+ Moderate), as shown in Table 6, it is noted that Case-1 starts with 11 Serious-Complete descriptors and at the end of the rehabilitation, it presented only 1 in this category, revealing a decrease of 90.91% in severe or complete descriptors. Conversely, he started the rehabilitation with only one functionality descriptor measured as Light and at the end, presented 11 of them qualified as light to moderate, representing a functional gain of 1,000%.

Case-2 started rehabilitation with 10 qualified descriptors as Grave-Complete and two as Mild-Moderate. At the end of rehabilitation, there was a variation of six in each group, representing a 60% decrease in severe-complete descriptors and an increase of 300% in those qualified as mild-moderate.

The rehabilitation’s adherence was satisfactory and patients maintained home exercises. The adherence was assessed by demonstrating the practice of exercise and also the absent of wounds.