Surgical Specialty and Insurance Type Predict Prosthesis Acquisition Timing

The primary objective of rehabilitation following major lower extremity amputation is the provision of a functional prosthesis to restore patient mobility and independence [1]. While active ankle-foot prostheses offer biomechanical and physiological advantages over passive devices, these benefits depend entirely on successful and timely device acquisition [2]. The path to effective ambulation is frequently hindered by socioeconomic determinants of health, such as financial instability or limited access to care, alongside clinical complications including residual limb pain or poor socket fit (the mechanical interface between the patient's limb and the prosthetic device) [3, 4, 5, 6]. These factors are known contributors to device abandonment and reduced community participation, highlighting the need to understand the systemic and surgical variables that influence recovery timelines [3, 6]. Recent findings now offer fresh insights into how specific institutional factors and surgical subspecialties impact the trajectory of prosthetic acquisition, providing clinicians with actionable data to improve postoperative care.