Effects of an Inpatient Physical Rehabilitation Program Designed for Persons with Amputations of Traumatic or Vascular Etiologies

Abstract

Introduction: Rehabilitation after amputation is essential, and descriptions of inpatient rehabilitation programs for individuals with amputation are scarce. Therefore, the objective of this study was to describe the effects of an inpatient physical rehabilitation program on mobility, balance, function, and gait of individuals with unilateral lower-limb amputations. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective before-after study. Data were extracted from medical records of individuals with lower-limb amputation admitted for inpatient intensive rehabilitation programs. Data on etiology, functional mobility (by timed up and go [TUG]), balance and functionality (amputee mobility predictor [AMP]), and gait (2-minute walk test [2MWT]) were collected before and after prosthetic fitting phase of an inpatient rehabilitation program. Patient information was stratified as traumatic and vascular etiologies, and after descriptive analysis, general outcomes and intragroup results were compared with t-test and followed by linear regressions analysis for a better understanding of the demographic and clinical roles on treatment evolution. Results: Group comparison evidenced differences of age between traumatic and vascular groups, as traumatic amputations had greater incidence among younger individuals, regardless of the prosthesis phase. Before the prosthesis fitting and regardless of the groups, there were significant improvements on AMP, 2MWT, and TUG, and the differences between both groups were influenced by their baseline conditions. After prosthesis fitting, significant improvements were identified, regardless of the etiology. Conclusions: This study provides evidence that individuals with amputation who are admitted to an intensive hospitalized physical rehabilitation program experience benefits in mobility, balance, functionality, and gait capacity irrespective of causality or if the prosthesis was provided. Gains evidenced in the preprosthetic phase were continued in the postprosthetic phase. Clinical Relevance: Inpatient rehabilitation programs for individuals with amputation are beneficial for improving the functionality of these individuals. This type of multidisciplinary rehabilitation provides functional improvements to the patient from the preprosthetic to the prosthetic phases, favoring global rehabilitation in a short period, which can reduce treatment time and provide better living conditions for the patient.