Quality of Life in People with Lower-Limb Amputation

Abstract:

Lower limb amputation arises from disease (e.g., diabetes mellitus, peripheral vascular disease, infection, tumors), traumatic or congenital causes. Rehabilitation following a lower limb amputation most commonly involves restoring function with the use of a prosthesis, and often confronts the individual with numerous physical and psychosocial challenges. Although quality of life (QOL) remains a relatively poorly researched concept within the field of amputation and prosthetics, there is an increasing acknowledgement of the importance of its assessment in ensuring a client-centered and evidence based approach to practice. This chapter summarizes relevant conceptual challenges in and the current knowledge on quality of life assessment in lower limb amputation and in particular describes amputation specific measures that include specific reference to QOL. These include the Trinity Amputation and Prosthesis Experience Scales,