An eight-year analysis of participant characteristics at admission to inpatient prosthetic rehabilitation following a lower limb amputation: a Canadian perspective

Abstract

Purpose To describe admission and discharge characteristics of participants admitted to prosthetic rehabilitation following a lower limb amputation and determine changes in participant characteristics including if the population has gotten older over time at admission. Methods A retrospective chart audit of consecutive admissions to an amputee rehabilitation program. Study criteria were transtibial level LLA and above and ≥ 18 years old. Admission characteristics included: age, Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Functional Comorbidity Index (FCI) and days between amputation surgery and admission. Discharge characteristics included the L -Test of Functional Mobility (L-Test), 2-Minute Walk Test (2MWT), 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT), and Activities-specific Balance Confidence (ABC) scale. Multivariable linear regression modelling quantified the association between participant characteristics and admission time. Results A total of 601 participants (62.3 ± 14.1 years) were included, 63 were (84.9 ± 3.7 years) aged 80 and over. FCI scores [β = 70.34, (95% CI: 20.93, 119.74), p = 0.005] and days between amputation surgery [β = −0.08, (95% CI: −0.13, −0.02), p = 0.011] were independently associated with admission time. Conclusion People with an LLA are presenting with a higher number of comorbidities at admission over time while being admitted faster from amputation surgery. Future research should investigate the impact of these changing characteristics on rehabilitation outcomes to better assist this population.