title: Success rates for rehabilitation of vascular amputees: implications for preoperative assessment and amputation level.
abstract: All lower limb amputations performed during 1986 and 1988 in eight hospitals in the south-east region were assessed. Of 440 amputations for vascular disease, 193 were above-knee, 193 below-knee, 15 Gritti-Stokes, 15 through-knee and 24 bilateral. Of the 440 patients, 75 died in hospital, 113 were considered unsuitable for a prosthesis and 252 (57 per cent) were referred for prostheses. Rehabilitation questionnaires were sent to 179 patients (41 per cent), as a further 54 had died and 19 had become known non-wearers before the study commenced. The response rate was 81 per cent; 102 patients completed the questionnaire, 21 were reported dead, and 22 were non-wearers. Of a maximum rehabilitation score of 12, 52 patients scored 6 or more (consistent with mobility on their artificial limb around the home), and 21 scored 9 or more (a standard accepted as successful rehabilitation). It is concluded that 10-15 per cent of amputees achieve mobility around the home on their prosthesis. Only 5 per cent, however, rehabilitate well and become independent of their wheelchair. When amputation is inevitable, more consideration should be given to surgery that optimizes wheelchair rehabilitation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Guy's Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Houghton
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thurlow
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rootes
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: McColl
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000671:Amputation, Surgical / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*; D014910:Wheelchairs