title: Quality of life and functionality of patients with heel reconstruction after landmine explosions.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Landmine injuries cause extensive soft and bony tissue loss of the weight-bearing areas, particularly the heel. Reconstruction of these injuries is challenging, and there are no studies that report long-term functional results.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the quality of life and long-term functionality of patients who had heel reconstruction with free muscle flap after landmine injuries.
  
  
  METHODS
  A case-control study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nine male patients who had heel reconstruction with free muscle flap. Ten male volunteers without any gait disorder were included in the study as the control group.
  
  
  METHODS
  Functional ambulation scale, visual analog scale, energy expenditure index, 6-minute walking test, 10-m walking test, and Short Form 36 were performed to determine the quality of life and functionality of the participants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no statistically significant differences between the 2 groups in terms of functional ambulation scale, energy expenditure index, 6-minute walking test, and 10-m walking test. Regarding Short Form 36 scores, all subgroup values were lower in the reconstruction group, whereas only those of general health, vitality, and physical-emotional role limitation subgroups showed statistical significance. Mean visual analog scale scores were found to be statistically different between the groups (P < .05). Mean Freiburg Ankle scores showed moderate functionality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite the associated physical and emotional trauma, combat-injured veterans with heel reconstruction after landmine injuries had adequate and functional ambulation at long-term follow-up. Early rehabilitation and close cooperation between surgeons and rehabilitation physicians during the care of these patients will enhance patient outcomes.
authors: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Haydarpaşa Training Hospital, Gülhane Military Medical Academy, Istanbul, Turkey. leventtekin@yahoo.com
authors: Levent
authors: L
authors: Tekin
authors: Fatih
authors: F
authors: Zor
authors: Selim
authors: S
authors: Akarsu
authors: Salim Kemal
authors: SK
authors: Tuncer
authors: Sinan
authors: S
authors: Oztürk
authors: Serdar
authors: S
authors: Oztürk
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000328:Adult; D001753:Blast Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005107:Explosions; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D018409:Foot Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery*; D006365:Heel / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011788:Quality of Life; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods / Q000534:rehabilitation; D020127:Recovery of Function; D018570:Risk Assessment; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016474:Weight-Bearing; D055815:Young Adult