title: Quality of life in persons with partial foot or transtibial amputation: A systematic review.
abstract: METHODS
  Systematic review.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Common beliefs about quality of life in people with partial foot and transtibial amputation are often described as passing comments in the literature with seeming little research evidence. A clear understanding of the research evidence is important to inform decisions about amputation level from a quality of life perspective.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To systematically gather and appraise research evidence comparing quality of life between persons with partial foot and transtibial amputation.
  
  
  METHODS
  A comprehensive suite of databases (e.g. Cochrane Library, MEDLINE and Web of Science) were searched using terms relating to amputation level and quality of life. Reference lists of articles that met the inclusion criteria were hand searched. Included studies reported quantitative data for persons with partial foot and transtibial amputation secondary to peripheral vascular disease and diabetes. Studies were appraised using the McMaster University Critical Review form.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There is insufficient evidence comparing quality of life in people with partial foot and transtibial amputation. The available evidence suggests that quality of life may be very similar in people with partial foot and transtibial amputation and the small differences are not likely to be clinically meaningful.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Without adequate evidence comparing quality of life in people with partial foot and transtibial amputation, it is difficult to inform decisions about amputation level from a quality of life perspective.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is insufficient evidence about differences in QoL between persons with PFA or TTA. Contrary to common belief, the available evidence suggests that QoL may be similar in persons with PFA and TTA. Further research is needed to inform decisions about amputation level from a QoL perspective.
authors.affiliation: National Centre for Prosthetics and Orthotics, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia m.quigley@latrobe.edu.au.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Quigley
authors.affiliation: National Centre for Prosthetics and Orthotics, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Michael P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Dillon
mesh_terms: D000671:Amputation, Surgical / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D001186:Artificial Limbs; D001315:Australia; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005528:Foot / Q000601:surgery; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017755:Prosthesis Fitting / Q000379:methods; D011788:Quality of Life; D013977:Tibia / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Quality of life; amputation; partial foot; transtibial