Wheeled mobility: Factors influencing mobility and assistive technology in veterans and servicemembers with major traumatic limb loss from vietnam war and OIF/OEF conflicts

Laferrier, JZ and Mcfarland, LV and Boninger, ML and Cooper, RA and Reiber, GE (2010) Wheeled mobility: Factors influencing mobility and assistive technology in veterans and servicemembers with major traumatic limb loss from vietnam war and OIF/OEF conflicts. Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development, 47 (4). 349 - 360. ISSN 0748-7711

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Abstract

Returning wounded veterans and servicemembers to their highest level of function following traumatic injury is a priority of the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs. We surveyed 245 veterans from the Vietnam war and 226 servicemembers and veterans from Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom (OIF/OEF) conflicts with at least one major traumatic lower-limb loss to determine their use of mobility assistive technology (AT) and patterns of limb abandonment. Prosthetic device use without wheelchair use is found in 50.5% of Vietnam and 42.8% of OIF/OEF groups. Prostheses and supplementary wheelchairs are used by Vietnam (32%) and OIF/OEF (53%) groups (p < 0.01). Exclusive wheelchair use is more frequent in the Vietnam group (18%) than in the OIF/OEF group (4.0%, p < 0.01). In Vietnam participants, multivariate analysis found that multiple-limb loss (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 14.5; 95% confidence interval [CI] 5.5-38.5), bilateral lower-limb loss (AOR = 12.7; 95% CI 6.2-26.1), and number of comorbidities (AOR = 1.3; 95% CI 1.2-1.5) are associated with increased likelihood of wheelchair use. In OIF/OEF participants, bilateral lower-limb loss (AOR = 29.8; 95% CI 11.0-80.7), multiple-limb loss (AOR = 16.3; 95% CI 3.1-85.3), cumulative trauma disorder (AOR = 2.4; 95% CI 1.2-4.9), and number of combat injuries (AOR = 1.4; 95% CI 1.2-1.7) are associated with wheelchair use. Combined use of different types of mobility ATs promotes improved rehabilitation and ability to function.

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Details

Item Type:	Article
Status:	Published
Creators/Authors:	Creators Email Pitt Username ORCID Laferrier, JZ Mcfarland, LV Boninger, ML boninger@pitt.edu BONINGER Cooper, RA RCOOPER@pitt.edu RCOOPER 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:	349 - 360
DOI or Unique Handle:	10.1682/jrrd.2009.03.0022
Schools and Programs:	School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences > Rehabilitation Science and Technology
Refereed:	Yes
ISSN:	0748-7711
MeSH Headings:	Activities of Daily Living; Afghan Campaign 2001-; Amputation, Traumatic--rehabilitation; Comorbidity; Cumulative Trauma Disorders--etiology; Female; Health Surveys; Humans; Iraq War, 2003 -; Male; Middle Aged; Military Personnel; Multiple Trauma--rehabilitation; Patient Satisfaction; Prostheses and Implants--utilization; Veterans; Vietnam Conflict; Wheelchairs--adverse effects; Wheelchairs--utilization; Young Adult
PubMed ID:	20803403
Date Deposited:	03 Oct 2012 21:46
Last Modified:	05 Feb 2019 03:55
URI:	http://d-scholarship-dev.library.pitt.edu/id/eprint/14721

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