Falls sustained during inpatient rehabilitation after lower limb amputation: prevalence and predictors.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study is to identify risk factors for falling and fall-related injury among a group of inpatients undergoing rehabilitation after major lower limb amputation.


METHODS
Retrospective cohort.


RESULTS
Out of 1267 patients, 260 (20.5%) fell at least once. There were a total of 374 falls, 67 (17.9%) of which resulted in one or more injuries. Adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated for factors significantly associated with falling, including age of > or =71 yrs (OR = 1.40, 95% CI = 1.02-1.89), lengths of stay of 22-35 days (OR = 2.97, 95% CI = 1.14-7.72) or >5 wks (OR = 6.07, 95% CI = 2.34-15.71), four or more comorbidities (OR = 1.93, 95% CI = 1.09-3.41), cognitive impairment (OR = 1.68, 95% CI = 1.02-2.78), two or more as-needed medications (OR = 1.81, 95% CI = 1.02-3.21), benzodiazepines (OR = 2.22, 95% CI = 1.24-3.96), and opiates (OR = 5.76, 95% CI = 3.29-10.09). Factors significantly associated with fall-related injuries included bilateral amputation (OR = 3.68, 95% CI = 1.49-9.05) and falls during the day shift (OR = 2.63, 95% CI = 1.24-5.57).


CONCLUSIONS
One in five patients with lower limb amputation will likely experience at least one fall during inpatient rehabilitation, with 18% sustaining an injury. Ongoing research is required to develop appropriate intervention strategies to ameliorate the risk of falling during inpatient rehabilitation.
Pauley
Tim
T
Clinical Evaluation and Research Unit, Amputee Rehabilitation Service, West Park Healthcare Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Devlin
Michael
M
Heslin
Kathleen
K
D000058:Accidental Falls; D000368:Aged; D000671:Amputation, Surgical / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D000673:Amputation, Traumatic / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*