achievable independent of amputation level, although the
small sample size limits the strength of their conclusion.
The largest study of war-related bilateral lower extremity
amputations, published by Ebrahimzadeh et al,
10
found that
SMs with BTFA have similar well-being and functioning as
individuals with other amputations. The study included 291
Iran
–Iraq War (1980–1988) veterans, and the Persian version
of the SF-36 questionnaire was used to assess impact of ampu-
tation on health-related quality of life. The authors devised an
ordinal grouping system based on the number of major joints
impaired, grouping individuals with BTFA and hip disarticula-
tion into a single group (Group V). This group comprised 25%
of the study population, and the authors did not
find the
Type V groups to have different SF-36 scores than other
groups; it is unclear if their
finding is applicable specifically
to the BTFA cohort due to their grouping system.
The lack of literature on gait and function of young,
otherwise healthy SMs with BTFA is notable. Furthermore,
all mentioned studies compare the rehabilitation outcomes
between prosthetic and nonprosthetic groups. There is no liter-
ature describing benchmarks of rehabilitation or outcomes in
the prosthetic BTFA group. As the literature has established
the general favorable rehabilitation outcome in BTFA group,
it is of vital interest for rehabilitation specialists to under-
stand reasonable expectations and de
ficits of those who had
achieved prosthetic ambulation in this group. The purpose of
this study was to characterize physical recovery in SMs with
BTFA, using objective and self-reported measures collected at
two functional evaluations within the
first year of independent
ambulation with prostheses.
METHODS
Ten SMs with combat-related bilateral transfemoral and/or
knee disarticulation amputations, secondary to blast injury,
participated in a large cross-sectional, longitudinal study of
SMs with amputation. Institutional approval was provided by
the local institutional review board and written informed con-
sent was obtained before data collection. SMs were enrolled
at the time they achieved the ability to independently ambu-
late without using assistive devices (all participated at zero-
month time point) and then at follow-up evaluation within the
next year. Inclusion criteria: age 18 to 45 years old; presence
of BTFA; ability to walk independently without the use of an
assistive device for at least 30 feet; ability to walk continu-
ously for a minimum of 5 minutes; and visual analog scale
pain score less than 4 out of 10. Exclusion criteria: moderate
or severe traumatic brain injury; cardiac or pulmonary prob-
lems that limited physical activity; and post-traumatic stress
disorder or other psychological condition that would be wors-
ened by participation in the study. As a result of blast injuries,
there were numerous comorbidities that did not preclude par-
ticipation. SMs sustained any combination of additional inju-
ries including trauma to one of both upper extremities (including
amputation at transhumeral and/or transradial and/or multiple
digits), abdominal and groin injuries (some requiring colosto-
mies), tympanic membrane injury, as well as mild head trauma.
SMs completed all testing with their daily-use prostheses,
consisting of microprocessor-controlled or mechanical pros-
thetic knee units and energy storing and return feet (Table I).
Data are reported on the following tests and questionnaires:
6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT), Stair Assessment Index (SAI),
TABLE I
Demographics
Participants
Age
(Years)
Time of Initial and
Follow-Up Visit
(Days From Injury)
Knee Type at Initial and
Follow-Up Visit
Height at Initial and
Follow-Up Visit (cm)
Weight at Initial and
Follow-Up Visit (kg)
1
24
313
Cleg
175.5
73.1
410
3R80
173.5
74.8
2
30
343
3R80
180
83.1
464
CLeg
177.5
82.6
3
26
227
CLeg
176
57.5
404
3R80
171.5
57
4
25
203
Rheo
182
70.8
384
Plie
182
75.9
5
21
410
CLeg
169
84.2
526
3R80
164
86.2
6
31
381
Genium
171.5
75.8
428
Genium
169
75.4
7
22
210
CLeg
174.5
85.1
335
CLeg
174.5
84.9
8
27
453
CLeg
169.5
84.1
753
X2
175.5
92.2
9
23
404
X2
179
83.1
501
X2
172
83.5
10
29
580
CLeg
174
87.5
672
Genium
168.5
88.2
Average (SD)
25.8 (3.4)
357.1 (121.7)
175.1 (4.4)
78.4 (9.2)
493.5 (147.9)
172.9 (5.4)
79.7 (10.5)
MILITARY MEDICINE, Vol. 181, November/December Supplement 2016
56
Outcomes of Service Members With Bilateral TF/KD Amputations