ORTO1300 Transtibial and Transfermoral Protheses Course description

This is the first of four modules in prosthetics and orthotics practice. The module is based on the clinical work processes covered in ORTO1000. It focuses on users with lower limb amputations, especially at transtibial or transfemoral level. These two levels account for a high proportion of prosthetist/orthotists' prosthetic technology work.

The field of pathology deals with how different diseases and injuries change cells and tissue, and thus also change the functioning of the tissue, organs and body. The module focuses on disease processes and diseases relevant to the field of prosthetics and orthotics, and on basic knowledge of relevant types of treatment from other healthcare professions.

The subjects covered by the module, with credits specified:

• Pathology (10 credits)
• Total credits: 10 credits

After completing the module, the student is expected to have achieved the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student

• has knowledge of medical reasons for lower limb amputations and pain following amputation
• is familiar with transtibial and transfemoral amputation surgery
• is capable of describing important terms in socket technology, alignment and biomechanics in connection with adaptation of transtibial and transfemoral prostheses
• has knowledge of silicone, elastomers and foam materials
• is familiar with challenges associated with prosthetic treatment in developing countries

Skills

The student is capable of

• conducting a visual gait analysis and correcting gait deviations
• carrying out clinical processes following amputations at transtibial and transfemoral level
• explaining choices of components and materials based on patient history and functional assessment
• using outcome measures and ICF and using the information to define goals and in patient records
• writing patient records
• preparing work descriptions and carrying out technical production procedures in the production of transtibial and transfemoral prostheses
• searching for, summarising and referencing research articles

General competence

The student is capable of

• applying basic clinical reasoning
• conducting him/herself in a professional manner and taking care of users in a clinical situation
• communicating both orally and in writing with users, fellow students and staff members in clinical and technical situations

The work and teaching methods used vary between seminars, skills training, a clinical and technical module, lectures, digital resources, student cooperation and self-study.

After completing the module, the student is expected to have achieved the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge:

Knowledge

The student has

• knowledge of special pathology of relevance to prosthetics and orthotics with a focus on prevalence, etiology, pathological processes, symptoms and clinical signs in the following areas: diseases of the musculoskeletal system, rheumatic diseases, neurological diseases, heart diseases, vascular diseases, mental disorders, infectious diseases, endocrine disorders, skin disorders including pressure sores, oncology, congenital pathology and lifestyle diseases
• knowledge of injury mechanisms, inflammatory and healing processes
• knowledge of the principles underlying other healthcare professions- treatment of relevant diseases and conditions
• knowledge of war injuries and consequential conditions

Exam content: The learning outcomes

Exam form: Home exam in groups of two or three students, a paper with a scope of 3,300-3,800 words

Resit exam

The students will have to rework the exam paper if it is awarded an F.

If the grade F is awarded after the oral exam, the student will have to retake the oral exam.

All

Grade scale A-F.

The group is awarded a grade for the written paper. Students can take the oral exam if they are awarded a pass grade, i.e. A-E, for the paper. The final grade is set after the oral exam. The whole grade scale can be used.

One external and one internal examiner will assess both parts of the exam for at least 20% of the students. The remaining exams will be assessed by two internal examiners. The external examiner's assessment shall benefit all the students.