69-OR: Mobility, Satisfaction, and Quality of Life among Long-Term Dysvascular/Diabetic Prosthesis Users: Results of a National Cross-Sectional Survey

Abstract

Objective: To establish the mobility, satisfaction and quality of life among prosthesis users with major lower limb dysvascular/diabetic amputation (transtibial or proximal) at various long-term phases of prosthetic rehabilitation. Methods: A multi-site, cross-sectional outcomes analysis. A total of 341 individuals met inclusion/exclusion criteria. Individuals were grouped in acute phases (0-3 mos (n=24); 4-6 mos (n=72)) and chronic phases (24-36 mos (n=91), 37-48 mos (n=53), 49-60 mos (n=47) and 60-84 mos (n=54)) post-amputation. Mobility was measured with the Prosthetic Limb Users Survey of Mobility (PLUS-M) while quality of life (Qol) and satisfaction (Sat) were reported using 10-point scales adapted from the Prosthesis Evaluation Questionnaire-Well Being (PEQ-WB). Results: The average mobility, Qol and Sat among prosthesis users was, respectively, 44.8±10.6, 7.6±2.2 and 7.6±2.2. There were no observed differences in mobility (F5,330=1.52, p=0.18) or Qol (F5,333=0.78, p=0.57) between any groups. For Sat, there was a group difference (F5,334=2.44, p=0.03) as individuals who receive a prosthesis 0-3 mos experience initial higher Sat values compared to those 25-36 mos (p=0.005), 49-60 mos (p=0.008), and 61-84 mos (p=0.009). Conclusion: Those individuals with amputation secondary to dysvascular disease and diabetes who continue to participate in prosthetic rehabilitation appear to maintain reasonable levels of mobility, satisfaction and quality of life as much as 7 years post amputation. There may be a modest initial increase in satisfaction with the early receipt of a prosthesis. However, transfemoral amputations were under represented in this cohort of individuals fitted shortly after amputation. Notably, the mobility levels observed in the dysvascular population through a range of extended post-amputation durations remain within a single standard deviation of the amputee population mean for mobility. Disclosure P. Stevens: Employee; Self; Hanger Clinic. S.R. Wurdeman: None. Funding American Orthotics & Prosthetics Association (EB-043016)