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Unilateral lower-limb loss: Prosthetic device use and functional outcomes in servicemembers from Vietnam war and OIF/OEF conflicts

Gailey, R and Mcfarland, LV and Cooper, RA and Czerniecki, J and Gambel, JM and Hubbard, S and Maynard, C and Smith, DG and Raya, M and Reiber, GE (2010) Unilateral lower-limb loss: Prosthetic device use and functional outcomes in servicemembers from Vietnam war and OIF/OEF conflicts. Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development, 47 (4). 317 - 332. ISSN 0748-7711

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Abstract

Rehabilitation goals following major combat-associated limb loss in World War II and the Vietnam war focused on treatment of the injury and a return to civilian life. The goal for Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom (OIF/OEF) servicemembers is to restore function to the greatest possible degree and, if they desire, return them to Active Duty, by providing them with extensive rehabilitation services and a variety of prosthetic devices. Our study determines the usefulness of these diverse types of prosthetic devices for restoring functional capability and documents prosthesis use and satisfaction. We compare servicemembers and veterans with major combat-associated unilateral lower-limb loss: 178 from the Vietnam war and 172 from OIF/OEF conflicts. Of survey participants with unilateral lower-limb loss, 84% of the Vietnam group and 94% of the OIF/OEF group currently use at least one prosthetic device. Reasons for rejection varied by type of device, but common reasons were pain, prosthesis too heavy, and poor fit. Abandonment is infrequent (11% Vietnam group, 4% OIF/OEF group). Future efforts should aim to improve prosthetic-device design, decrease pain, and improve quality of life for these veterans and servicemembers.

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Details

Item Type: Article
Status: Published
Creators/Authors:
CreatorsEmailPitt UsernameORCID
Gailey, R
Mcfarland, LV
Cooper, RARCOOPER@pitt.eduRCOOPER
Czerniecki, J
Gambel, JM
Hubbard, S
Maynard, C
Smith, DG
Raya, M
Reiber, GE
Centers: Other Centers, Institutes, Offices, or Units > Human Engineering Research Laboratories
Date: 13 July 2010
Date Type: Publication
Journal or Publication Title: Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development
Volume: 47
Number: 4
Page Range: 317 - 332
DOI or Unique Handle: 10.1682/jrrd.2009.04.0039
Schools and Programs: School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences > Rehabilitation Science and Technology
Refereed: Yes
ISSN: 0748-7711
MeSH Headings: Activities of Daily Living; Adult; Afghan Campaign 2001-; Amputation, Traumatic--rehabilitation; Female; Health Surveys; Humans; Iraq War, 2003 -; Lower Extremity--injuries; Male; Middle Aged; Military Personnel; Outcome Assessment (Health Care); Patient Satisfaction; Prostheses and Implants--utilization; Quality of Life; Self-Help Devices--utilization; Veterans; Vietnam Conflict; Young Adult
PubMed ID: 20803401
Date Deposited: 03 Oct 2012 21:43
Last Modified: 02 Feb 2019 14:56
URI: http://d-scholarship-dev.library.pitt.edu/id/eprint/14720

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