gms | German Medical Science

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of predictors that affect the rehabilitation outcome of war-related below-knee amputees.

Material/Methods: This is observational, retrospective study. We reviewed the records of 69 war-related below-knee amputees, rehabilitated in Ortho-Prosthetic Center-prosthetic rehabilitation unit in University Clinical Center of Kosovo – Inpatient Ward. For the assessment of rehabilitation outcome respectively of possibilities for ambulating with prosthesis, we established three grades of rehabilitation.

Results: The majority of patients with below-knee amputations have achieved the first grade of rehabilitation 59.4%. According to multiple logical analyses of regression, the variables that significantly influenced the first grade of rehabilitation were the age of the patients and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). With the increasing of patient’s age in one year, the probability of achieving the first grade of rehabilitation decreased to 0.93 (OR=0.93, 95% CI 0.89 to 0.98, p<0.007). The developing of PTSD in amputees has decreased the probability of achieving the first grade of rehabilitation to 11 (OR=11.25, 95% CI 1.89 to 66.9, p<0.008).

Conclusion: The successful outcome of rehabilitation is predicted by younger age, and without the presence of PTSD.

Key words: War-related below-knee amputations; rehabilitation outcome; age; PTSD; stump length; co-morbidity; injuries in other extremities.