Effect of a Rehabilitation Program on the Quality of Life of Patients with Lower Limb Amputation

Lower limb amputation (LLA) is usually performed as a life saving procedure to remove all infected, pathologic, or ischemic tissue. Irrespective of the cause of LLA, it has a significant and dramatic change in a person’s life which has an effect on quality of life of patients due to the physical activity limitations immediately after amputation and long-term implications in different aspects of life. Objective: Determine the effect of a rehabilitation program on the quality of life for patients with lower limb amputation. Setting: This study was conducted in Surgical Units and Vascular Unit, Department of Surgery, Alexandria Main University and Alexandria Vascular Center (AVC). Subjects: The study subjects were included 50 adult patients with unilateral major LLA, able to communicate effectively and agreed to participate in the study. Tools: Two tools were used for data collection: Preoperative and Postoperative Lower Limb Amputation Assessment Tool and Short Form 36 (SF-36) Health Survey Questionnaire. Results: The study showed that patients in the study group who received the rehabilitation program had higher scores of SF36 health domains than those in the control group who received routine hospital care. In addition, there was a statistical significant difference between the two groups in relation to overall quality of life. Conclusion: It can be concluded that mean scores of SF36 health domains improved significantly in the study group compared to control group after applying the rehabilitation program. Recommendations: The rehabilitation program should be considered as an integral part in the hospital routine care of patients with LLA.