Outcomes following major dysvascular lower limb amputation: an updated systematic review

Adults with major lower limb amputation (LLA) due to dysvascular etiology often experience diverse health outcomes. However, the absence of standardized outcome reporting limits the ability to synthesize evidence, evaluate care models, and develop consistent clinical pathways. This review updates a systematic review on outcome measures and indicators reported in this population.

A systematic review update was conducted across six databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, EBM Reviews, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and CINAHL) from 20 April 2017 to 1 December 2022. All study designs were eligible; however, the articles needed to report outcome measures and indicators on at least 50% of the adult population with major dysvascular LLAs. The extracted outcome measures and indicators were organized according to Dodd's framework and then reclassified alongside those reported in the study by Ambler and colleagues. The pilot phase of data extraction was carried out independently by multiple reviewers, after which a single reviewer completed the data extraction.

Of the 12,557 articles, 160 studies reporting data on 228,116 individuals with major dysvascular LLA met the inclusion criteria. Combining these with the 440 studies from the previous review, 2,466 outcome measures and indicators were categorized in five core areas: life impact (25.7%), physiological/clinical (23.4%), death (18.7%), resource use (17.6%), and adverse events (14.6%). In terms of the outcome domains, mortality/survival was the most commonly reported domain, followed by physical functioning (e.g. prosthesis fit, use), skin (e.g., stump wound healing), nervous system outcomes (e.g., residual limb pain), need for further interventions (e.g., prescription of medications), hospital outcomes (e.g., duration of stay, discharge), and adverse events.

This study builds on a previous review by identifying and categorizing outcome measures and indicators in adults with major dysvascular LLA, highlighting inconsistencies in outcome reporting across studies. The absence of a standardized set of outcome measures and indicators limits the ability to conduct meta-analyses or systematic reviews, evaluate the effectiveness of care models, and establish clinical pathways. Developing a core outcome set tailored to the needs of individuals with dysvascular LLA could help address these challenges by promoting consistency in outcome reporting and enabling meaningful comparisons across studies. Ultimately, this could contribute to improving the quality, efficiency, and person-centeredness of care.

PROSPERO (CRD42023388570).