OBJECTIVE: To describe and compare the quality of life (QOL) of persons with lower-limb amputation (LLA) at admission (T1), discharge (T2), and 3 months after rehabilitation discharge (T3) and to explore the relationships between QOL and demographic and clinical variables including body image. DESIGN: Longitudinal case series. SETTING: Inpatient rehabilitation facility. PARTICIPANTS: Consecutive sample of 19 unilateral persons with LLA (14 men, mean age, 53.4+/-14.6y). INTERVENTION: Interdisciplinary rehabilitation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Generic and specific QOL measures and perception of body image at T1, T2, and T3. RESULTS: Subjective QOL was relatively high at T1, T2, and T3 (0.87/2, 1.1/2, and 1.0/2, respectively) except for items related to physical functioning. There was no significant change over time for all but 1 QOL satisfaction measure (ability to go outside, P=.024). Prosthesis-related QOL was high at discharge and follow-up. Body-image disturbances were absent over the study period. QOL satisfaction and prosthesis satisfaction were strongly related to lower-limb pain and psychosocial factors (eg, body image). CONCLUSIONS: QOL of persons with LLA was high and remained relatively stable during inpatient rehabilitation and 3 months after discharge.
OBJECTIVE: To describe and compare the quality of life (QOL) of persons with lower-limb amputation (LLA) at admission (T1), discharge (T2), and 3 months after rehabilitation discharge (T3) and to explore the relationships between QOL and demographic and clinical variables including body image. DESIGN: Longitudinal case series. SETTING: Inpatient rehabilitation facility. PARTICIPANTS: Consecutive sample of 19 unilateral persons with LLA (14 men, mean age, 53.4+/-14.6y). INTERVENTION: Interdisciplinary rehabilitation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Generic and specific QOL measures and perception of body image at T1, T2, and T3. RESULTS: Subjective QOL was relatively high at T1, T2, and T3 (0.87/2, 1.1/2, and 1.0/2, respectively) except for items related to physical functioning. There was no significant change over time for all but 1 QOL satisfaction measure (ability to go outside, P=.024). Prosthesis-related QOL was high at discharge and follow-up. Body-image disturbances were absent over the study period. QOL satisfaction and prosthesis satisfaction were strongly related to lower-limb pain and psychosocial factors (eg, body image). CONCLUSIONS: QOL of persons with LLA was high and remained relatively stable during inpatient rehabilitation and 3 months after discharge.
Authors: Margaret G Stineman; Pui L Kwong; Dawei Xie; Jibby E Kurichi; Diane Cowper Ripley; David M Brooks; Douglas E Bidelspach; Barbara E Bates Journal: PM R Date: 2010-04 Impact factor: 2.298