Conclusions

• Among community-dwelling amputees, the majority are living independently. Only a few survey participants required assistance with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, eating, and getting in and out of bed. In spite of this, when compared to a national sample from the U.S., a larger proportion of amputees required assistance than their age-matched counterparts. The majority of amputees surveyed reported being employed, going to school full-time or working as a homemaker. However, a large number of working-age amputees (18-64 years) reported being retired due to a disability.

• The most common secondary conditions associated with limb loss are pain and depressed mood. Nearly all amputees surveyed reported experiencing some type of amputation-related pain in the past 4 weeks, with the most common pain type experienced being phantom limb pain. Depressed mood was also highly prevalent among people with limb loss. Nearly one-third of amputees surveyed were found to have depressed mood.

• Among the sample of amputees surveyed, the majority reported wearing a prosthesis daily. Most of those surveyed reported using other assistive devices such as canes, walkers and wheelchairs. Satisfaction with the fit of the prosthesis was high. However, nearly one-third of amputees were dissatisfied with the comfort of their prosthesis. The greatest satisfaction was reported in the ease of use of the prosthesis. Overall, amputees were satisfied with their prosthetist’s skills. However, lower satisfaction ratings were found in the area of interpersonal manner and information-giving.

• A significant number of amputees reported barriers to accessing physical and emotional healthcare during the past year. One in 10 amputees did not receive medical care when they needed it and nearly half of all people with depressed symptoms reported not receiving the emotional health services they needed. Common barriers included cost and not knowing where to go for help.

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The Limb Loss Research and Statistics Program
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Hampton House, Rm 502
624 N. Broadway, Baltimore 21205
Phone: 410/614-8885
Fax: 410/614-2797
E-mail: pephraim@jhsph.edu

Amputee Coalition of America
900 East Hill Ave., Suite 205
Knoxville, TN 37915-2566
Phone: 888/AMP-KNOW
(888/267-5669)
Fax: 865/525-7917
E-mail: acainfo@amputee-coalition.org