Quality of life of persons with lower-limb amputation during rehabilitation and at 3-month follow-up.
OBJECTIVE
To describe and compare the quality of life (QOL) of persons with lower-limb amputation (LLA) at admission (T1), discharge (T2), and 3 months after rehabilitation discharge (T3) and to explore the relationships between QOL and demographic and clinical variables including body image.


METHODS
Longitudinal case series.


METHODS
Inpatient rehabilitation facility.


METHODS
Consecutive sample of 19 unilateral persons with LLA (14 men, mean age, 53.4+/-14.6y).


METHODS
Interdisciplinary rehabilitation.


METHODS
Generic and specific QOL measures and perception of body image at T1, T2, and T3.


RESULTS
Subjective QOL was relatively high at T1, T2, and T3 (0.87/2, 1.1/2, and 1.0/2, respectively) except for items related to physical functioning. There was no significant change over time for all but 1 QOL satisfaction measure (ability to go outside, P=.024). Prosthesis-related QOL was high at discharge and follow-up. Body-image disturbances were absent over the study period. QOL satisfaction and prosthesis satisfaction were strongly related to lower-limb pain and psychosocial factors (eg, body image).


CONCLUSIONS
QOL of persons with LLA was high and remained relatively stable during inpatient rehabilitation and 3 months after discharge.
School of Rehabilitation, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada.
Diana
D
Zidarov
Bonnie
B
Swaine
Christiane
C
Gauthier-Gagnon
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000671:Amputation, Surgical / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D000674:Amputees / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D001186:Artificial Limbs; D001828:Body Image; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011788:Quality of Life; D011792:Quebec; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires