Abstract
ABSTRACTObjectiveThe aim of this study was to establish the mobility, satisfaction, and quality of life (QoL) among prosthesis users with dysvascular/diabetic amputation at both acute and long-term phases of prosthetic rehabilitation.MethodsThis is a multisite, cross-sectional outcomes analysis. A total of 341 individuals met the inclusion/exclusion criteria. Individuals were grouped into acute phases (0–3 months [n = 24], 4–6 months [n = 72]) and chronic phases (24–36 months [n = 91], 37–48 months [n = 53], 49–60 months [n = 47], and 60–84 months [n = 54]) after amputation. Mobility was measured with the Prosthetic Limb Users Survey of Mobility (PLUS-M), whereas QoL and satisfaction (Sat) were reported using 10-point scales adapted from the Prosthesis Evaluation Questionnaire–Well-Being (PEQ-WB). Composite PEQ-WB scores were also compared.ResultsThe average mobility, QoL, and Sat among prosthesis users was, respectively, 44.8 ± 10.6, 7.6 ± 2.2, and 7.6 ± 2.2. There were no observed differences in mobility (F5,330 = 1.52, P = 0.18), QoL (F5,333 = 0.78, P = 0.57), or PEQ-WB (F5,335 = 1.618, P = 0.155) between any groups. For Sat, there was a group difference (F5,334 = 2.44, P = 0.03) as individuals appear to experience an initial increase in Sat with receipt of a prosthesis (0–3 months) compared with 25 to 36 months (P = 0.005), 49 to 60 months (P = 0.008), and 61 to 84 months (P = 0.009).ConclusionsThose individuals with amputation secondary to dysvascular disease and diabetes who continue to participate in prosthetic rehabilitation appear to experience levels of mobility, Sat, and QoL 7 years after amputation comparable to that reported in the first 6 months postamputation. There may be a modest increase in Sat with receipt of an initial prosthesis, potentially due to an increased optimism for one's situation. Notably, the mobility levels observed in the dysvascular population through a range of long-term postamputation periods remain within a single standard deviation of the population mean for individuals with a lower-limb amputation using a prosthesis for mobility.
Published Version
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