Gender differences in amputation outcome.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the influence of gender on the success of limb-fitting after amputation.


METHODS
One-hundred and five successive in-patients admitted to an amputee rehabilitation ward were followed to assess the success of limb-fitting at discharge. The influence of demographic, clinical and social factors on the success of lower limb-fitting was assessed using linear regression analysis and group comparisons.


RESULTS
There were 35 (33%) women in a cohort of 105 successive admissions. Men and women were comparable in terms of age, length of stay, medical comorbidity and level of amputation. Women were less likely to be successfully fitted with a prosthetic limb at discharge than men (42.9% vs. 68.6%, p = 0.011), and more women lived alone (57.1% vs. 38.6%, p = 0.021). Linear regression revealed that gender was an independent significant factor in the success of limb-fitting; age, level and cause of amputation, co-morbidity and length of stay were not significant factors.


CONCLUSIONS
Women were less likely to be successfully fitted with a lower limb prosthesis after amputation.
Singh
Rajiv
R
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Astley Ainslie Hospital, Edinburgh, UK. rajiv.singh@lpct.scot.nhs.uk
Hunter
John
J
Philip
Alistair
A
Tyson
Sarah
S
D000368:Aged; D000671:Amputation, Surgical / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D001186:Artificial Limbs; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D012737:Sex Factors; D012934:Social Isolation