Psychological adjustments among lower limb amputees in North Indian population: A cross-sectional study

Limb amputation is an extremely stressful event for an individual, following which the amputee develops inferior body image, anxiety, and changes in self-concept and identity. For holistic rehabilitation, understanding the psychosocial status of the amputee and its' predictors is of utmost importance.

The aim of the article is to assess the psychological adjustments in patients with lower limb amputation and determine its clinical and sociodemographic correlates.

A observational cross-sectional study was conducted from 2020 to 2022 among lower limb amputees of a tertiary care hospital in Lucknow which serves as the only rehabilitation and artificial limb center for the whole state of Uttar Pradesh. Baseline sociodemographic and clinical data were collected. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale was used to determine underlying depression and anxiety, while the Trinity Amputation and Prosthesis Experience Scale was used for understanding the psychological adjustment.

The mean age of the amputee was 39.47 ± 16.99 years. The mean general, social adjustment, and adjustment to limitation score was 16.3 ± 3.34, 15.19 ± 3.59, and 12.76 ± 3.15, respectively. Male amputees, aged >40 years, and pensioners had significantly higher scores for general adjustment (P < 0.05). Those aged >40 years were pensioners and had no underlying depression and anxiety and had better social adjustment (P < 0.05). Those with transfemoral amputation had a significantly lesser adjustment to limitation (P = 0.003).

Young age amputees had poor general and social adjustments and more activity restriction but high prosthesis satisfaction as compared to the elderly. Those with transfemoral amputation had a poor adjustment to limitation while those wearing above-knee prosthesis had more activity restriction.