to develop strategies to decrease the risk of loss of bone
mineral density.
Pregnancy is another consideration for many women with
amputations of traumatic etiology that are of reproductive,
childbearing age. Pregnancy-related volume change weight
gain may cause abnormal wear on components (e.g., pros-
thetic feet) that need to be monitored more frequently. Signif-
icant
fluid and volume fluctuations of the residual limb are
also more common in women particularly during pregnancy,
and this can affect the
fit of the prosthetic socket.
17
Addition-
ally, weight
fluctuation may necessitate a category change in
selected componentry if, for instance, a component
’s weight
limit is exceeded during gestation. Similarly, pregnancy will
alter the woman
’s center of mass throughout the pregnancy,
which may challenge balance, prosthetic alignment, and risk
of falls for the prosthetic user. Appropriate monitoring and
intervention should be applied if any of these complications
arise; however, prevention of such issues is always the pre-
ferred strategy.
Transdisciplinary care teams including medical profes-
sionals that work with female Veterans with amputations
should consider that enhanced levels of communication may
be necessary in order to maximize satisfaction and quality of
care. Women Veterans may also have a greater need for pri-
vacy and security in the clinic setting. Women Veterans with
amputations will frequently have different rehabilitation
goals, including a greater desire to become independent in
household activities and to pursue different recreational and
leisure pursuits.
18
Women who have undergone amputation
also have different psychological and adjustment issues
related to their amputation.
18
–20
Providers caring for this
group will be able to optimize health and quality of life if
armed with awareness of key differences in gender as well
as the latest scienti
fic developments.
VA INITIATIVES AND STRATEGIES
The VA increasingly recognizes the growing population and
unique health care needs of women Veterans, including those
who have limb amputations. VA implemented the Poly-
trauma System of Care and the Amputation System of Care
(ASoC) to provide specialized expertise in rehabilitation and
amputation care.
21
The ASoC incorporates the latest prac-
tices in medical rehabilitation, therapy services, and pros-
thetic technology in order to enhance the environment of
care and ensure consistency in the delivery of rehabilitation
services for all Veterans with amputations.
VA clinicians working with Veterans with amputations
evaluate each patient individually and develop unique,
patient-speci
fic treatment plans that consider the Veteran’s
gender and other individual characteristics.
22
A transdisci-
plinary team including specialized physicians, prosthetists,
and rehabilitation therapists utilizing a team-based approach
helps to assure that each Veteran
’s short- and long-term
goals and health care needs are addressed. To ensure that
the psychosocial and emotional needs of the female Veteran
with an amputation are met, enhanced supportive services,
including peer support mentoring or psychological counsel-
ing are provided.
23
Counseling or psychological support for
other mental health issues such as post-traumatic stress dis-
order (PTSD) or military sexual trauma are also extended
as needed.
Since implementing the ASoC in 2008, VA has com-
pleted and implemented numerous initiatives related to
this group:
• Convening education and training conferences focused
on women
’s health care needs;
• Conducting panel discussions with groups of Female
Veterans with amputations;
• Hosting national conference calls including education for
various groups of providers and care managers on the Vet-
eran amputee population and speci
fic considerations;
• Publishing scientific journal articles to educate pro-
viders on the unique needs of Female Veterans with
amputations;
18,24
and
• Providing online educational training (FY2013) on the
unique needs of female Veterans with traumatic extrem-
ity injury and amputation.
This review has provided an overview of considerations
unique to the female Veteran with amputation. These factors
should be taken into account if treatment strategies are to be
successful and gaps in commercially available products and
research are going to be appropriately identi
fied. Logical next
steps might include rigorously de
fining the population of
women Veterans with amputation, systematically reviewing
the literature regarding what is known about issues facing
women Veterans with amputation, and generating associated
research priorities. Still, much remains unknown and ongoing
clinical and academic discourse on this topic is necessary to
continue advancing the science and improving care for this
deserving population.
REFERENCES
1. Ziegler-Graham K, MacKenzie EJ, Ephraim PL, Travison TG,
Brookmeyer R: Estimating the prevalence of limb loss in the United
States: 2005 to 2050. Arch Phys Med Rehabil Mar 2008; 89(3): 422
–9.
2. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: V.A. Of
fice of Inspector General.
Healthcare Inspection Prosthetic Limb Care in VA Facilities. (Report
no. 11-02138-116). Washington, DC, 2012. Available at http://www.va
.gov/oig/pubs/VAOIG-11-02138-116.pdf; accessed July 7, 2016.
3. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban DevelopmentOf
fice of Commu-
nity Planning and DevelopmentU.S. Department of Veterans Affairs:
National Center on Homelessness Among Veterans. Veteran Homeless-
ness: A Supplement to the 2010 Annual Homeless Assessment Report
to Congress. 2010. Available at http://www.va.gov/HOMELESS/docs/
2010AHARVeteransReport.pdfm; accessed July 7, 2016.
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at http://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/vet_03182015.pdf; accessed
July 7, 2016.
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MILITARY MEDICINE, Vol. 181, November/December Supplement 2016
67
A Review of Unique Considerations for Female Veterans With Amputation