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Rehabilitation Research and Development Service, Department of Veterans Affairs, Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development, 4(47), p. 373

DOI: 10.1682/jrrd.2009.03.0023

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Quality of life for veterans and servicemembers with major traumatic limb loss from Vietnam and OIF/OEF conflicts

Journal article published in 2010 by Richard A. Epstein, Allen W. Heinemann ORCID, Lynne V. McFarland
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.

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Preprint: policy unknown
Question mark in circle
Postprint: policy unknown
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Published version: policy unknown
Data provided by SHERPA/RoMEO

Abstract

The goals of rehabilitation after major limb loss include not only functional restoration but also a return to a high quality of life (QOL). Few studies have identified which factors are associated with QOL in veterans and servicemembers with combat-associated major limb loss. We enrolled Vietnam and Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom (OIF/OEF) veterans and servicemembers in a national survey on prosthetic device use. In the Vietnam group, multivariate analysis found multiple limb loss (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 3.1, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.57-6.02) and satisfaction with current prostheses (aOR = 1.2, 95% CI = 1.05-1.38) are associated with better overall QOL, while a higher amputation impact rank (aOR = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.59-0.74) and depression (aOR = 0.21, 95% CI = 0.08-0.54) are associated with worse overall QOL. In the OIF/OEF group, three factors are significantly associated with worse overall QOL: combat-associated head injury (aOR = 0.78, 95% CI = 0.61-0.99), combat-associated injury to the nonamputated limb (aOR = 0.71, 95% CI = 0.57-0.88), and assistance needed in daily living (aOR = 0.12, 95% CI = 0.02-0.72). Improving satisfaction with prosthetic devices, improving mental health care, and treating other combat-associated injuries may significantly improve the overall QOL for these veterans and servicemembers.