Outcomes in Lower Limb Amputation Rehabilitation

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: Lower leg amputations affect mobility and can be solved with prosthesis. Despite being included in the Package of Rehabilitation Interventions created by the World Health Organisation, there are lacks in rehabilitation outcome research. Objectives: Reveal the rehabilitation outcomes and, secondarily, determine predictors of prosthesis use for at least two years. Methods: Retrospective cohort study of patients with major lower limb amputations aged between 18 and 70 years with no other disabilities. Rehabilitation outcomes and the predictors of prosthesis use at discharge (time II) compared to the two-year follow-up (time III) were evaluated. Results: 703 patients were included. At time II, 95.73% (673) completed the treatment, with a prosthetic gait rate of 73.12%. Age was a predictor for prosthetic gait, as each one-year increase in age corresponded to a 3.29% decrease in prosthesis use. At time III, 54.21% of the patients had higher prosthetic gait performance, for 2 years at least, requiring a new device. Conclusion: The rehabilitation ensures mobility though high-performance prosthetic gait regardless of age, sex, or aetiology, for at least 2 years from rehabilitation discharge. Though with a lower prosthesis use rate with increasing age.