A Preliminary Comparison of Function and Outcome in Patients with Diabetic Dysvascular Disease

In Brief It has generally been assumed that physical functioning after lower extremity amputation is directly correlated with patient-perceived quality of life. Six dysvascular transtibial amputees (average age, 66 years) who were successful independent community ambulators with prostheses completed the Prosthetic Evaluation Questionnaire (PEQ), a validated self-reported quality of life instrument specifically designed for persons with a lower extremity amputation and participated in a Six-Minute Walk Test (SMWT), an accepted aerobic test for persons with medical disability. There was no statistical correlation between distance walked in the SMWT and the PEQ subscales “well-being,” “sounds,” “perceived response,” “residual limb health,” “appearance,” “frustration,” and “utility.” There was a positive trend between the subscales “ambulation” (p ≤ .4977) and “social burden” (p ≤ .5310). Able-bodied persons frequently have the bias that patient-perceived quality of life in persons with disability is directly related to their ability to perform physical tasks. The results of this study suggest that rehabilitation efforts after transtibial amputation should not be directed simply at prosthetic fitting and independent walking. This study highlights the need to tailor rehabilitation efforts to specific needs of individual patients. This article features a study done using the Prosthetic Evaluation Questionnaire and the Six Minute Walk Test to elucidate the needs of transtibial amputees in their rehabilitation efforts. The results suggest that rehabilitation efforts should go beyond prosthetic fitting and independent walking to better address the specific needs of the individual patient.