Article

This study investigated whether obesity impacted clinical outcomes of
patients at discharge from inpatient amputation rehabilitation. Method - This was a retrospective chart review examining admissions for lower extremity amputation
rehabilitation at a Canadian Regional Amputee Rehabilitation Programme between
December 2011 and June 2014. Discharge outcomes were predefined as the two-minute
walk test (2MWT), the L-test of functional mobility and the SIGAM score. These
were compared between each body mass index (BMI) group (underweight < 18.4 kg/m2,
normal between 18.5 and 24.9 kg/m2, overweight between 25.0 and 29.9 kg/m2 and
obese greater or equal to 30 kg/m2) as a whole and within transtibial,
transfemoral and bilateral amputation groups. Results Of the 289 admissions
meeting inclusion criteria, only underweight patients walked significantly less
distance on the 2MWT than normal weight patients. There were group differences in
the L-test, but post hoc testing was unable to qualify the differences. No
significant difference was found in the SIGAM score. There were no significant
differences found in the 2MWT, L-test or SIGAM when patients were grouped by
amputation level. Conclusions Obesity does not appear to significantly impact
inpatient amputation rehabilitation outcomes such as the 2MWT, L-test or SIGAM
score. As such, obesity should not be a deciding factor as to whether a patient
is offered rehabilitation. Implications for Rehabilitation Obesity is increasing
in prevalence and is comorbid with peripheral vascular disease and diabetes, the
leading causes of lower extremity amputation. Function is compromised in the
obese general population when compared to non-obese individuals. Obesity does not
seem to confer a disadvantage with regards to validated outcomes, such as the
2-min walk test, L-test or SIGAM score at discharge after inpatient amputation
rehabilitation. Obesity should not be a barrier to offering inpatient
rehabilitation to amputation patients.

Langue : ANGLAIS