Paul J Dougherty1. 1. United States Army Medical Corps, Department of Surgery, William Beaumont Army Medical Center, El Paso, Texas 79920, USA. paul.dougherty@amedd.army.mil
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Despite their frequency, few reports exist concerning the initial and long-term consequences of battle-incurred unilateral transfemoral amputations. METHODS: A retrospective cohort design was used to measure the long-term health of transfemoral battle amputees treated at a single hospital during the Vietnam War. Data collection consisted of medical record abstraction and a follow-up questionnaire that included the SF-36 Health Survey. RESULTS: Forty-six patients responded to the survey an average of 28 years after injury. Compared with the controls, patient responses to the SF-36 were significantly (p < 0.01) less in all categories except Mental Health and Vitality. Forty-three (93.5%) are or have been married. Forty-one (89.1%) are or have been employed an average of 20.1 years. Forty patients (87%) wore a prosthesis an average of 13.5 h/day. CONCLUSION: Although the patients do relatively well with employment and marriage stability, the low SF-36 scores suggest a significant disability.
BACKGROUND: Despite their frequency, few reports exist concerning the initial and long-term consequences of battle-incurred unilateral transfemoral amputations. METHODS: A retrospective cohort design was used to measure the long-term health of transfemoral battle amputees treated at a single hospital during the Vietnam War. Data collection consisted of medical record abstraction and a follow-up questionnaire that included the SF-36 Health Survey. RESULTS: Forty-six patients responded to the survey an average of 28 years after injury. Compared with the controls, patient responses to the SF-36 were significantly (p < 0.01) less in all categories except Mental Health and Vitality. Forty-three (93.5%) are or have been married. Forty-one (89.1%) are or have been employed an average of 20.1 years. Forty patients (87%) wore a prosthesis an average of 13.5 h/day. CONCLUSION: Although the patients do relatively well with employment and marriage stability, the low SF-36 scores suggest a significant disability.
Authors: Carrie E Foote; Joyce Mac Kinnon; Chris Robbins; Regina Pessagno; Matthew D Portner Journal: Qual Life Res Date: 2015-06-03 Impact factor: 4.147