Quality of life of persons with lower-limb amputation during rehabilitation and at 3-month follow-up.

Abstract

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. Longitudinal case series. Inpatient rehabilitation facility. Consecutive sample of 19 unilateral persons with LLA (14 men, mean age, 53.4+/-14.6y). Interdisciplinary rehabilitation. Generic and specific QOL measures and perception of body image at T1, T2, and T3. 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). QOL of persons with LLA was high and remained relatively stable during inpatient rehabilitation and 3 months after discharge.