title: Bilateral lower limb amputee rehabilitation. A retrospective review.
abstract: We retrospectively reviewed 61 cases of bilateral lower limb amputations in patients admitted to a regional amputee rehabilitation program. Of the 61 cases, 41 were analyzed as to functional outcome on discharge, at 1 month, and at 3 months; 20 were not included owing to transfers to acute care or loss to follow-up. There were 41 men and 20 women, the average age was 61.5 years, and 47 patients (77%) were discharged to home. There were 25 bilateral below-knee, 14 above-knee and below-knee, 12 bilateral above-knee, 5 below-knee and partial-foot, 3 above-knee and partial-foot, and 2 bilateral partial-foot amputations. The average length of stay for all levels was 24.2 days. Most of the patients at the time of discharge achieved a level of limited household walking with the exception of those with bilateral above-knee amputations. A significant improvement in function was noted for all patients at 3-month follow-up, with most patients achieving household ambulation level, but 10 remained independent at wheelchair level for mobility.
authors.affiliation: Moss Rehabilitation Hospital, Philadelphia, PA 19141-3099.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Esquenazi
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000674:Amputees / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010351:Patient Discharge; D012189:Retrospective Studies