UMMS Affiliation
Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences
Publication Date
2019-03-14
Document Type
Article
Disciplines
Equipment and Supplies | Health Services Administration | Health Services Research | Military and Veterans Studies | Musculoskeletal Diseases | Musculoskeletal, Neural, and Ocular Physiology | Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms | Surgical Procedures, Operative
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: A comprehensive study to assess quality and outcomes of care for Veterans with upper limb amputation is needed. This paper presents methods and summary findings from a national survey of Veterans with upper limb amputation.
METHODS: After completion of a pilot study to develop and refine methods, computer-assisted telephone interviews were conducted with 808 Veterans with upper limb amputation (response rate = 47.7%; cooperation rate = 63.3%).
RESULTS: Respondents were 776 unilateral and 32 bilateral amputees, 97.5% male, mean age 63.3 (sd 14.1). Prostheses were used by 60% unilateral and 91% bilateral, the majority used body powered devices. Prostheses were used > /=8 hours/day by 52% unilateral and 76% bilateral. Prosthetic training was received by 71% unilateral and 59% bilateral. Mean prosthetic satisfaction was 3.9 (sd 0.6) and 3.8 (sd 0.7) as measured by TAPES; and 25.0 (sd 5.1) and 25.7 (sd 4.5) as measured by OPUS CSD for unilateral and bilateral respectively. Mean perceived disability (measured by QuickDASH) scores were 49.5 (sd 20.7) for unilateral and 34.7 (sd 22.0) for bilateral. VR-12 PCS scores were below population norms. The majority reported contralateral limb pain, musculoskeletal conditions, back and neck pain. Phantom limb pain was reported in 83.4% of unilateral and 68.8% of bilateral, and residual limb pain in 65.1% of unilateral and 68.8% of bilateral. Most, (81.8% unilateral, 84.4% bilateral) had been to a Veterans Affairs medical center (VA) for amputation care, while 57% of unilateral and 81.3% of bilateral had been to a VA amputation clinic.
DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: Veterans with upper limb amputation have moderately impaired physical functioning. Prosthesis use rates were lower than previously reported. Although satisfied with their prostheses, nearly half used them < /=8 hours/day. Rates of musculoskeletal problems, phantom and residual limb pain were higher than previously reported. A substantial proportion never received prosthetic training, or VA amputation care.
Keywords
Prosthetics, Body limbs, Myalgia, Quality of life, Surveys, Elbow, Etiology, Treatment guidelines
Rights and Permissions
Copyright: This is an open access article, free of all copyright, and may be freely reproduced, distributed, transmitted, modified, built upon, or otherwise used by anyone for any lawful purpose. The work is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication.
DOI of Published Version
10.1371/journal.pone.0213578
Source
PLoS One. 2019 Mar 14;14(3):e0213578. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0213578. eCollection 2019. Link to article on publisher's site
Journal/Book/Conference Title
PloS one
Related Resources
PubMed ID
30870496
Repository Citation
Resnik L, Ekerholm S, Borgia M, Clark MA. (2019). A national study of Veterans with major upper limb amputation: Survey methods, participants, and summary findings. Open Access Articles. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0213578. Retrieved from https://escholarship.umassmed.edu/oapubs/3811
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons 1.0 Public Domain Dedication.
Included in
Equipment and Supplies Commons, Health Services Administration Commons, Health Services Research Commons, Military and Veterans Studies Commons, Musculoskeletal Diseases Commons, Musculoskeletal, Neural, and Ocular Physiology Commons, Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Commons, Surgical Procedures, Operative Commons