title: Long-term clinical outcomes of war-related bilateral lower extremities amputations.
abstract: In a cross-sectional study, 291 out of 500 veterans with war-related bilateral lower limb amputations from Iran-Iraq war (1980-1988) accepted to participate in our study. Information related to amputees and amputated limbs were gathered and a Persian version of the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 (SF-36) was filled. To evaluate the effect of amputation level on health related quality of life, we classified patients to seven types according to the functional remainder of major joints (ankles, knees, hips). 97% of patients were male and the average age at the time of injury was 20 years. The major cause of war injury was shells in 50. 54% of amputees were involved in sport activities. The most common amputation level was transtibial (48%).The major stump complaint was muscle spasm. History of being hospitalized for a psychiatric disorder was reported in 5.6%. The average SF-36 score in type 2 to type 6 were 68, 60, 60, 56, and 62, respectively. Except Energy/Fatigue domain, all the other domains were different from normal population. There was not any significant statistical correlation between amputation type and any domain of the SF-36. Type 6 amputees showed an increase in physical health domains compared with former types.
authors.affiliation: Janbazan Medical and Engineering Research Center (JMERC), Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: Ebrahimzadehmh@mums.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Mohammad Hosein
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Ebrahimzadeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Orthopedic Research Center, Ghaem Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Ahmad-Abad Street, Mashhad 91766-99199, Iran. Electronic address: moradial@mums.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moradi
authors.affiliation: University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Mohammad Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Khorasani
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Orthopedic Research Center, Ghaem Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Ahmad-Abad Street, Mashhad 91766-99199, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hallaj-Moghaddam
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Orthopedic Research Center, Ghaem Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Ahmad-Abad Street, Mashhad 91766-99199, Iran.
authors.forename: Amir Reza
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Kachooei
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000673:Amputation, Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D000674:Amputees / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000293:injuries*; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D064846:Sports for Persons with Disabilities; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Amputation; Amputee; Bilateral lower limb amputation; Health status; War amputation