Upper limb amputation; Care needs for reintegration to life: An integrative review

Upper limb amputations cause numerous physical and psychosocial challenges including disruptions to quality of life as well as limitations in participation in society. While there is a great deal of literature on patients undergoing lower limb amputation, information on upper limb amputation is limited. This study aimed, therefore, to explore care needs in patients undergoing upper limb amputation.

An integrative review was conducted. The five-stage framework introduced by Whittemore and Knafl was used: problem identification, literature search, data evaluation, data analysis and presentation of results. Searches were performed based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria for online and unpublished research between 2008 to 2018. Data was extracted using CASP and STROBE checklists and analyzed using conventional inductive content analysis.

Conventional content analysis method, applied to the full texts of the final articles, included 21 articles (4 qualitative articles and 17 quantitative articles). The care needs identified included 33 care needs in 6 domains: social needs, health care system, rehabilitation program, necessity of self-care, assisting in timely and correct decision-making and patient and family education.

Rehabilitation plans should be made for all patients, with special attention to male workers. This should begin at the time of admission and continue after their discharge. Routine follow up after discharge is essential. Care must be provided by a multidisciplinary team with timely and accurate referral and with consideration of culture and individual factors.