Rehabilitation for lower extremity amputation

J. M. Malone, W. Moore, J. M. Leal and S. J. Childers

The results of rehabilitation for lower-extremity amputation were analyzed to assess the impact of a center that used a coordinated team combined with modern surgical and prosthetic techniques. Data for group 1 patients (amputated between July 1, 1975, and June 30, 1977) demonstrated a healing rate of 63%, a mean rehabilitation time of 128 days, a mean hospitalization time of 68 days, and a rehabilitation rate of 69% for those who could walk prior to amputation. Data for group 2 (amputated between July 1, 1977, and July 30, 1979) demonstrated an amputation healing rate of 97%, an average rehabilitation time of 30.8 days, a mean hospitalization time of 38 days, and a rehabilitation rate of 100% for those patients who could walk before amputation. There was no difference between groups 1 and 2 in surgical mortality; all other variables, however, showed significant improvement for group 2 patients. Comparison within the same institution of the results of rehabilitation for lower-extremity amputation before and after the initiation of a dedicated amputation center clearly demonstrated the superiority of the center concept.