Return to work in lower limb amputees

Abstract

The main rehabilitation objectives for the lower-limb amputee patients are: functional independence in their activities of daily living, locomotion and community reintegration. The return to work must be encouraged, as it promotes well-being, improves self-esteem and social integration and gives life a new meaning. Objective: To verify the work status and use of prosthetic lower limbs of amputee patients seen at Lar Escola Sao Francisco Rehabilitation Center - UNIFESP, Sao Paulo. Methods: Retrospective study with patients seen between 1999 and 2005, presenting lower limb amputation and at least 18 years of age, working or studying at the time of the amputation. The sample consisted of 78 patients, 61 men and 17 women, with a mean age of 46.3 years. Amputation level was transfemoral in 50% and transtibial in 34.6% of the patients. Vascular diseases were the most prevalent cause of amputation (62.8%). Fifty-one patients (65.4%) had finished Elementary School. The interview by phone was carried out from December 2006 to January 2007. Results: Sixty-four percent of all patients used prosthetic lower limbs. A total of 10.2% of the amputee patients returned to work after a lower-limb amputation, and all of them returned to the same work they did before the amputation. Conclusion: Few amputee patients return to work after rehabilitation with prosthesis. Many factors, such as older age at the time of amputation and low level of schooling may be the cause of these results. Further studies are necessary for a better analysis of this outcome.