Longitudinal study of prosthesis use in veterans with upper limb amputation.

BACKGROUND

Little is known about the patterns of prosthesis use and satisfaction of those who cease use or begin to use upper limb prostheses.

OBJECTIVES

Among a longitudinal sample of Veterans with upper limb amputation, (1) describe changes in prosthesis use over 1 year, (2) examine rates of receipt of new prostheses, and (3) compare prosthesis satisfaction in respondents who received a new prosthesis to those who did not.

STUDY

DESIGN

Longitudinal survey.

METHODS

808 Veterans who had participated in a baseline interview 1 year earlier were invited to participate in structured telephone interviews.

RESULTS

A total of 562 persons with unilateral and 23 with bilateral amputation participated in the interviews (Response rate = 72.4% and 85.2%, respectively). Prosthesis use, frequency and intensity of use, and types of prostheses used were stable over 1 year. About 24% reported using a different primary terminal device type at follow-up than baseline. Prosthesis use was less frequent/intense at baseline among those who discontinued use compared with those who did not (P < 0.05), and less frequent/intense for those who started compared with those who continued using a prosthesis (P < 0.0001). Rates of prosthetic training were higher among those who received a different prosthesis type compared with those using the same type (P = 0.06). Satisfaction scores were higher (P < 0.01) for new prosthesis recipients, and lower at baseline for prosthesis abandoners compared with continued users (P = 0.03).

CONCLUSION

Prosthesis abandonment appears to be predicated on dissatisfaction with the device, as well as less frequent/intense prosthesis use. These findings can be used to identify those at risk for prosthesis abandonment and improve their prosthesis experience.