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Mobility in elderly people with a lower limb amputation: a systematic review.
Lauren V Fortington1, Gerardus M Rommers, Jan H B Geertzen
1Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Center for Rehabilitation, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. l.v.fortington@rev.umcg.nl
Journal of the American Medical Directors Association
|April 1, 2011
Summary
Prognosis for mobility in elderly amputees is unclear. While some achieve advanced prosthetic skills, less than half reach household mobility, highlighting the need for more research.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Medicine
- Rehabilitation Science
- Prosthetics & Orthotics
Background:
- Elderly individuals with lower limb amputation face significant challenges in regaining independence due to comorbidities.
- Mobility is crucial for independence, but predicting outcomes for this population is difficult.
- An evidence-based prognosis for mobility is essential for effective rehabilitation and long-term care planning.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review prosthetic and non-prosthetic mobility outcomes in elderly individuals post-lower limb amputation.
- To determine if an accurate prognosis for mobility can be established for this patient group.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of studies published before May 2010 from MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CINAHL.
- Inclusion of studies in English, German, Dutch, or French, focusing on elderly, mobility, rehabilitation, and amputation.
- Mobility outcomes measured at least 6 months post-amputation or 3 months post-rehabilitation discharge.
Main Results:
- Included studies had diverse outcome measures and mobility grades, hindering meaningful comparison.
- Selected groups of prosthetic users demonstrated advanced mobility, including community ambulation.
- Less than half of all elderly amputees achieved household-level prosthetic mobility.
Conclusions:
- Incomplete reporting of study populations and unreliable mobility measures limited the review's conclusions.
- The prognosis for mobility in elderly individuals after lower limb amputation remains unclear.
- Further research is necessary to inform rehabilitation and long-term care decisions.
