title: Comparison of quality of life in people with partial foot and transtibial amputation: A pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Quality of life is often cited as a key influence in decisions about partial foot and transtibial amputations despite there being no studies comparing quality of life in these groups.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare quality of life in people with partial foot amputation or transtibial amputation secondary to peripheral vascular disease and determine factors influencing quality of life in these cohorts.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mail-out, mail-back version of the SF-36v2 Health Survey and an adapted version of the demographic section of the Trinity Amputation and Prosthesis Experience Scales-Revised were sent to people recruited through a large metropolitan hospital.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both the SF-36v2 mental health component summary and physical component summary scores were comparable in the partial foot amputation (n = 10) and transtibial amputation (n = 23) cohorts. A multivariate linear regression showed that age, time with diabetes and the presence of retinopathy significantly influenced either the SF-36v2 mental health component summary or physical component summary whereas amputation level did not.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results support existing descriptive data that indicate quality of life is comparable in cohorts with partial foot and transtibial amputation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that quality of life need not to be a consideration when deciding between partial foot and transtibial amputation for persons with vascular disease. Surgeons and patients may wish to focus on other considerations, such as the relative risk of ulceration and subsequent amputation, when choosing between partial foot and transtibial amputation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The similarity in quality of life between people with partial foot and transtibial amputation helps inform difficult decisions about amputation surgery by focusing on surgery that will reduce the risk of complications and secondary amputation without fear of compromising quality of life.
authors.affiliation: La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia M.Quigley@latrobe.edu.au.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Quigley
authors.affiliation: La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Michael P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Dillon
authors.affiliation: The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Emily J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Duke
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000671:Amputation, Surgical; D001186:Artificial Limbs; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D035002:Lower Extremity; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011788:Quality of Life; D013977:Tibia; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Quality of life; SF-36; amputation; partial foot; transtibial