Limb loss in individuals with chronic spinal cord injury

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study is to describe a population of individuals with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI), who underwent lower limb amputations, identify indications for amputations, medical co-morbidities and summarize resulting complications and functional changes. Design: Retrospective observational cohort study. Setting: SCI Service, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Health Care System. Participants: Veterans with SCI of greater than one-year duration who underwent amputation at a VA Medical Center over a 15-year period, using patient registry and electronic health records. Diagnosis and procedure codes were utilized to identify amputations. Interventions: Not applicable. Outcome measures: Amputation level, complications, functional status, change in prescribed mobility equipment and mortality. Results: 52 individuals with SCI received amputation surgery with a mean age of 62.9 years at time of amputation. Thirty-seven (71.2%) had paraplegia, and 34 (65.3%) had motor-complete SCI. Pressure injuries and osteomyelitis were most common indications for amputation. Amputations were primarily (83%) at the transtibial level or more proximal, with the most common amputation level at transfemoral/through-knee (29;55.8%). Postoperative complications occurred in five individuals. Seven of nine individuals who were ambulatory pre-surgery remained ambulatory. Equipment modifications were required in 37 (71%) of individuals. Five-year survival following amputations was 52%, and presence of peripheral vascular disease was significantly associated with mortality (P = 0.006). Conclusions: Pressure injuries and osteomyelitis were most common etiologies for limb loss. Less than half experienced functional change after amputation; more than half required new or modified mobility equipment. An increase in mortality may reflect overall health deterioration over time.