Functional results and mortality in elderly patients with major lower limb amputation

Abstract

Introduction and objectives: the objectives of this work have been to know what factors influence in the functional recovery of elderly patients who suffer a major lower limb amputation (SMA) of vascular etiology and to analyze the recovery of gait and mortality one year after the amputation. Material and methods: longitudinal observational study of patients older than 70 years assessed by the Rehabilitation Service after SMA from January 1, 2019 to January 1, 2021. The following variables were collected: Age, sex, etiology, body mass index, comorbidity (Charlson scale), independence in basic ADL (Barthel index) and previous walking capacity (FAC). One year later, walking ability and mortality. Results: the study was conducted in 45 patients with a mean age of 80.3 years, 64.3 % male. All were of vascular etiology. The level of amputation was: supracondylar 31 and infracondylar 14. After a year, only 5 patients were walking and 21 had died. The variables related to the possibility of rehabilitation-fitting were: having less comorbidity (p = 0.004) as well as having greater functional and gait independence prior to amputation (p = 0.000), as well as those related to no mortality, with a (p = 0.005) and (p = 0.017) (p = 0.013) respectively. Conclusion: the best functional and clinical situation prior to amputation are the most important factors both for the possibility of prosthetic rehabilitation and for the survival of our elderly amputees.