Lower limb amputee patients' satisfaction with information and rehabilitation

Body image disturbance, psychosocial adjustment and quality of life in adolescents with amputation

BACKGROUND

Physical and emotional situations experienced by amputees can affect body image and quality of life (QoL). Although adolescence is a time when appearance becomes more important, there are insufficient studies in literature examining the effect of body image disturbance (BID) on QoL and psychosocial adjustment in adolescents with amputation.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the BID, psychosocial adjustment and QOL in adolescents with amputation.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study included individuals aged 11-18 years with amputation. The Amputee Body Image Scale was used to determine BID, the psychosocial adjustment subscale of Trinity Amputation and Prosthesis Experience Scale was used to investigate the psychosocial adjustment to amputation, and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory was used to determine the QoL.

RESULTS

Evaluation was made of 42 adolescents (26 boys, 16 girls) with a mean age of 14.24 ± 2.25 years. Significant correlations were found between BID and age of fitting of the first prosthesis, psychosocial adjustment and QoL (p < 0.05). 38% of the variance of QoL was predicted by perceived body image and income of the family. 34% of the variance of psychosocial adjustment was predicted by perceived body image (p < 0.05). Adolescents suffering phantom limb pain were seen to have lower QoL scores (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

BID is an important predictor of psychosocial adjustment and QoL in adolescent amputees. Therefore, a prosthesis that ensures the integrity of the body image should be fitted at an as early age as possible before the onset of body image disorder.

Lower limb proximal amputation for a tumour: a retrospective study of 12 patients

OBJECTIVE

To analyse survival, prosthetic fitting and functional status after trans-femoral amputation or hip disarticulation for a primitive tumour.

METHODS

Retrospective study of all patients admitted since 1985.

RESULTS

Mean age at amputation was 55. Causes of amputation were osteosarcoma in 50%. Eight (8) patients had initial conservative surgery. Local recurrence was never observed. Nine (9) developed metastasis and required further hospitalisation. Fifty percent (50%) of patients died. Inpatient rehabilitation started 14 days after amputation (7-27), and was of a mean duration of 32 days. Prosthetic fitting was performed 13 days after admission (7 days when a liner was used). Further improvement of the prosthesis was performed in 10 patients. Among the patients who died, 5 had gone home, 4 were wearing their prosthesis all day long and 2 walked indoors with no additional support at discharge. Three (3) patients lived less than 2 months at home. Among the patients who did survive, all went home, 5 were wearing their prosthesis all day long and 2 walked indoors without aid at discharge. Two (2) patients practised sport and 4 drove. All the patients who were active have gone back to work.

CONCLUSIONS

Gain due to prosthesis provision is undebatable. Good functional results can be obtained with adapted materials. Initial problems due to the synchronisation of treatments are resolved with multidisciplinary care. All patients should have a rapid and short hospitalisation in a rehabilitation unit and receive a first, simple prosthesis that can be further adapted.

Experience in prosthetic supply of patients with lower limb amputations in Croatia

This study analyses some demographic characteristics of the amputees in Croatia, reason and level of amputation, care the amputees receive, the first prosthetic supply and functional level after rehabilitation. Anonymised data on all amputees in the Clinical Institute for Rehabilitation and Orthopaedic Aids in Zagreb (a national centre) were collected during the year 2000. Follow-up was undertaken for one year. As a result, the authors analysed 221 patients, classified into 3 groups according to the level of amputations: trans-tibial, except foot (TT), trans-femoral (TF) and bilateral amputations (bilateral). Among the population there were: 76% men and 24% women with average age of about 62 years (the average age of women was 8 years more than men). The most common diseases that resulted in amputation were: diabetes mellitus (DM) 48.9%; obstructive vascular diseases (OD): occlusive peripheral arterial disease, Buerger's disease and atherosclerosis 27.1%; trauma 11.3%; both OD and DM 7.2%; osteomyelitis (OM) 3.2% and tumours (TM) 2.3%. Average period from the amputation to admission for prosthetic supply was over 190 days but the average period from admission to discharge from the Institute was about 40 days. Prosthetic supply was accompanied by certain complications: flexion contractures of neighbouring joints, knee 37.9% and hip 35.2%; local complications of soft tissues: necrosis, wound dehiscence, soft tissue surplus, ischaemic tissue damage (the most frequent in TT amputation 35.9%) and phantom pain (55.7% of patients). Hours of daily use of the prosthesis at discharge was about 5 hours. Greater independence in fitting and removing the prosthesis was observed in patients with TT amputation (86.4%). In conclusion, it can be said that the time between the amputation and the beginning of the prosthetic supply, mobility at the time of admission, frequency of general and local complications and number of days in prosthetic supply, are very important for the result of rehabilitation.

Effect of participation in physical activity on body image of amputees

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to examine body image in individuals with amputations and to determine if a relationship exists between body image and level of participation in physical activity and sports. A secondary objective was to examine correlations between two body-image assessments.

DESIGN

A nonrandomized survey was given to a convenience-volunteer sample of individuals of at least 18 yr of age with a lower limb amputation.

RESULTS

Twenty-four participants were active and 32 were minimally active. Statistical significance was preset at P < 0.05, with a 95% confidence interval. An overall significant difference was found between groups on the MBSRQ and on three of the 10 MBSRQ subscales. Significant correlations were found between six MBSRQ subscales and the ABIS.

CONCLUSION

A positive relationship was found between regular participation in physical activity and body image among lower limb amputees.