Assessment of the quality of life of lower-limb amputees with orthosis

ObjectiveThe aim of this work is to analyze the becoming and the quality of life (QOL) of implanted patients following a major lower extremity amputation.Material and methodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study including 17 patients fitted after major lower extremity amputation. We assessed their QOL using the “Nottingham health profile” NHP (with 6 items: mobility, emotional reactions, energy, social isolation, sleep, pain) and the analogue scale VAS of QOL graduated from 0 to 100 mm. In a second time, we studied the correlation between QOL and age, sex, comorbidity, level of amputation, and evolution.ResultsIt was about 17 patients, including 12 men and 5 women with a mean age 53 years. Fifteen patients had a lot of comorbidities. The amputation had been operated from 3 to 32 months before evaluation. Amputation Level was transfemoral in 6 patients and transtibial in 11. EVA QOL was averaged 62/100. The average score of NHP was 46/100. Items mainly altered were mobility, pain then energy. Furthermore, we found a correlation between decreased QOL, level of amputation and comorbidity. On the other side, no effect of age, sex and evolution of the amputations were objectified on QOL.Discussion and conclusionQOL is a concept difficult to define and to assess in the amputee because of lack of specific scale. However, this concept becomes determinant in the care of amputees. Improving the quality of life for amputees and preserving it involves necessarily better mobility, maintained psychological state and indolence. This requires a close collaboration between different contributors to treat each patient