Limb amputation is a salvage surgical procedure relatively common in small animals and other species. Wild animals after forelimb amputation have many difficulties in returning to normal life because forelimbs of arboreal quadrupeds are used to carry most of their weight and hold feed. This study investigated forelimb amputation and its outcomes in two raccoon dogs. Two male raccoon dogs presented for radio-ulnar fractures. Shoulder disarticulation amputation was applied to protect the thoracic cavity and reduce surgical time. After the operation, they could run comparatively faster with three legs. As they had good body condition and regular appetite during the hospitalization period, they were released to the area from which they were captured. Six months after the release, one of the raccoon dogs represented for hair loss by mites. It showed satisfactory function of the existing three limbs. Thus, amputation of forelimb could be considered as a treatment in raccoon dogs with severe limb status.

This study was conducted to investigate the status and the life satisfaction of amputees from July 9, 2001 to August 18, 2001. Questionnaire survey was collected from lower extremity amputees using the services of prosthetic and orthotic centers in five Veterans Hospitals (Seoul, Busan, Gwangju, Daeku, and Daejun), Seoul Tehlin prosthetic and orthotic center, Chunan prosthetic and orthotic center, and Junju Lee Ganga rehabilitation institute. Amputees were grouped as trans-tibial amputees, trans-femoral amputees, and bilateral amputees based on amputation level. Demographic and social characteristics, performance of social role, and factors influencing life satisfaction revealed findings as follows: 1) The number of subjects voluntarily participated in the study was 113 (109 men, 4 women), and the mean age of subjects was 53.65 years (age range=22-74 years). 2) The time of amputation was at their second decade mostly (72.6%), and the most common etiology of amputation was trauma (91.2%). 3) The most common type of amputation was trans-tibial amputation (59.3%). Subjects who were employed was 68.1% before amputation and 47.8% after amputation. Subject had income regardless of being employed or unemployed after amputation. 4) No significant difference was found between the scores of social role and the scores of life satisfaction in three groups(p<0.05). 5) The significant factors on life satisfaction was income status and occupational role among variables(p<0.05).

본 증례연구는 복합손상을 가진 척수손상환자의 재활치료과정을 소개하여 유사한 사례의 치료에 도움이 되고자 하는 것이다. 증례연구의 대상자인 26세의 남자환자는 흉수 4번 완전손상과 사고 당시 전기화상에 의한 좌측하박 절단과 우측손의 정중신경이 마비되었다. 치료초기에는 일상생활동작 검사에서 MBI (Modified Barthel Index) 점수가 22점으로 독립적으로 가능한 것은 거의 없었고, 기능적으로도 모든 도움이 필요한 상태였으나 재활치료결과 독립적

임상 결과의 측정에서 새로운 관점을 갖는 것은 중요하다. 의료 재활은 심리적 측정의 질들(표준화, 신뢰도, 타당도)에서 충분한 노력에 수행되어지지 않아 왔기 때문에 환자와 프로그램 사이에 일반화된 기능적인 평가 범위가 부족하다. 장애의 적절한 측정을 위한 요구는 기능적인 상태에서 변화들을 알리고 치료의 필요성을 평가하고 치료를 계획하고 결과를 예측하고 보상 방법을 측정하기 위한 환자의 치료와 임상 연구에서 모두 나타난다. 세계적으로 사용되어지고 있는 기

Surface electromyogram (sEMG), which is a bio-electrical signal originated from action potentials of nerves and muscle fibers activated by motor neurons, has been widely used for recognizing motion intention of robotic prosthesis for amputees because it enables a device to be operated intuitively by users without any artificial and additional work. In this paper, we propose a training-free unsupervised sEMG pattern recognition algorithm. It is useful for the gesture recognition for the amputees from whom we cannot achieve motion labels for the previous supervised pattern recognition algorithms. Using the proposed algorithm, we can classify the sEMG signals for gesture recognition and the calculated threshold probability value can be used as a sensitivity parameter for pattern registration. The proposed algorithm was verified by a case study of a patient with partial-hand amputation.