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Updated: Jul 1, 2025
Measurements of Motor Function and Other Clinical Outcome Parameters in Ambulant Children with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Published on: January 12, 2019
Clinical outcomes measurement in pediatric lower limb prosthetics: A scoping review
Kevin D Koenig1, Michelle J Hall1, Caroline Gormley2
1Orthotics, Prosthetics, Seating, and Casting Department, Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare, St. Paul, MN, USA.
Insights
This study identified few measures to assess function and quality of life in children with lower limb prostheses (LLP). More research is needed to validate existing or develop new outcome measures for pediatric LLP users.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Rehabilitation
- Prosthetics and Orthotics
- Health Outcomes Research
Background:
- Assessing function, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and satisfaction in children using lower limb prostheses (LLP) is crucial for effective treatment.
- Existing outcome measures may lack sufficient psychometric validation for this specific pediatric population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and evaluate clinical measures used for assessing function, HRQoL, and satisfaction in pediatric lower limb prosthesis (LLP) users.
- To determine the availability of psychometric data (validity, reliability) for these measures in children with LLP.
Main Methods:
- Conducted a systematic literature search of PubMed, CINAHL, and Web of Science databases for pediatric LLP research published since 2001.
- Identified standardized outcome measures and subsequently searched for studies reporting their psychometric properties in children using LLP.
Main Results:
- Identified 44 standardized outcome measures from 41 articles on pediatric LLP research.
- Only five measures demonstrated reported psychometric data specifically for children using LLP: Gait Outcomes Assessment for Lower Limb Differences, Functional Mobility Assessment, Child Amputee Prosthetics Project- Prosthesis Satisfaction Inventory, Child Amputee Prosthetics Project- Functional Scale Index, and Lower Limb Function Questionnaire.
Conclusions:
- There is a significant gap in the availability of psychometrically sound outcome measures for evaluating function, HRQoL, and satisfaction in pediatric LLP users.
- Further research is essential to validate current measures or develop novel instruments tailored to the needs of children with lower limb prostheses.
Objective:
This study aimed to identify clinical measures that have been used to evaluate function, health related quality of life (HRQoL), and/or satisfaction in children who use lower limb prostheses (LLP). The data reported on psychometric properties for children who use LLP were collected for each measure.
Methods:
First, PubMed, CINAHL, and Web of Science databases were searched using broad search terms to identify standardized outcome measures of function, HRQoL, and/or satisfaction with treatment used in pediatric LLP research published in 2001 or after. For each of the eligible measures found, a second search was performed to identify psychometric properties (e.g., validity, reliability) assessed with children who use LLP.
Results:
Forty-four standardized outcome measures were identified from 41 pediatric LLP research articles. Five measures (i.e., Gait Outcomes Assessment for Lower Limb Differences, Functional Mobility Assessment, Child Amputee Prosthetics Project- Prosthesis Satisfaction Inventory, Child Amputee Prosthetics Project- Functional Scale Index, and Lower Limb Function Questionnaire) had data on psychometric properties for children who use LLP.
Conclusions:
Few studies report psychometric data for assessing the overall HRQoL, function, and/or satisfaction for children who use LLP. Further research is needed to validate or create new outcome measures that assess the HRQoL, satisfaction, and/or function of children who use LLP.
