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Aim: The study examined the relationships between psychological variables and sexual functioning in persons with lower limb amputations., Method: Sixty-five participants (n = 49 males, n = 16 females) with lower limb amputations completed a battery of self-report questionnaires regarding their current psychological well-being and their current sexual activity. Measures included the anxiety items on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Beck Depression Inventory - Second Edition, Body Image Quality of Life Inventory, Body Exposure Self-Consciousness during Intimate Situations and the Golombok-Rust Inventory of Sexual Satisfaction., Results: Half of all participants with lower limb amputations were not currently sexually active. Approximately 60% of those who were sexually active scored within the clinical range for overall sexual dysfunction. Overall levels of sexual dysfunction were associated with significantly higher levels of anxiety (r = 0.40, p < 0.005), depression (r = 0.41, p < 0.015) and body exposure self-consciousness during sexual activities (r = 0.56, p < 0.005). Body image self-consciousness during sexual activities was the strongest predictor of sexual dysfunction., Conclusions: Psychological challenges following limb loss are strongly associated with levels of sexual dysfunction. The study highlights the need for psychological and psychosexual assessment and intervention following limb loss to enhance sexual functioning and overall quality of life. Implications for Rehabilitation Only half of the participants with a lower limb amputation were sexually active. Over 60% of those who were sexually active reported clinical levels of sexual dysfunction. One third of the entire sample scored within the clinical range for depression and for anxiety. Depression, anxiety and body image issues were significantly associated with sexual dysfunction in the current sample of individuals with lower limb amputation. There is a need for psychosexual assessment following limb loss to ensure that appropriate and timely interventions are made available. Interventions that target the psychological factors related to sexual dysfunction are likely to improve overall quality of life for these individuals.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to adapt the Special Interest Group in Amputee Medicine (SIGAM) mobility scale to Turkish, and to test its validity and reliability in lower extremity amputees., Material and Methods: Adaptation of the scale into Turkish was performed by following the steps in American Association of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) guideline. Turkish version of the scale was tested twice on 109 patients who had lower extremity amputations, at hours 0 and 72. The reliability of the Turkish version was tested for internal consistency and test-retest reliability. Structural validity was tested using the "scale validity" method. For this purpose, the scores of the Short Form-36 (SF-36), Functional Ambulation Scale (FAS), Get Up and Go Test, and Satisfaction with the Prosthesis Questionnaire (SATPRO) were calculated, and analyzed using Spearman's correlation test., Results: Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.67 for the Turkish version of the SIGAM mobility scale. Cohen's kappa coefficients were between 0.224 and 0.999. Repeatability according to the results of the SIGAM mobility scale (grades A-F) was 0.822. We found significant and strong positive correlations of the SIGAM mobility scale results with the FAS, Get Up and Go Test, SATPRO, and all of the SF-36 subscales., Conclusion: In our study, the Turkish version of the SIGAM mobility scale was found as a reliable, valid, and easy to use scale in everyday practice for measuring mobility in lower extremity amputees. Implications for Rehabilitation Amputation is the surgical removal of a severely injured and nonfunctional extremity, at a level of one or more bones proximal to the body. Loss of a lower extremity is one of the most important conditions that cause functional disability. The Special Interest Group in Amputee Medicine (SIGAM) mobility scale contains 21 questions that evaluate the mobility of lower extremity amputees. Lack of a specific Turkish scale that evaluates rehabilitation results and mobility of lower extremity amputees, and determines their needs, directed us to perform a study on this topic when we took the number of amputations performed in our country into consideration. SIGAM mobility scale is directed at rehabilitation specialists who are working in amputee medicine. Turkish version of this scale was found both reliable and valid in our study and hence it can be used in clinical practice and studies.

Purpose: While lower limb prosthetic prescription is reliant on many physical indicators, it is clear that psychosocial factors need to be emphasised to a greater extent within this field if the needs of users are to be appropriately addressed. The aim of this study is to explore and identify the outcomes of prosthetic prescription through qualitative inquiry., Method: Six focus groups with prosthetic service users and 10 semi-structured interviews with service providers were conducted and then analysed with inductive thematic analysis., Results: The outcomes identified were: independence, not being in a wheelchair, balance and safety, improved quality of life and reaching potential., Conclusions: These emergent themes challenge the predominating focus on physical functioning that many practitioners have. These findings are important for developing a user-based model of service provision and outcome evaluation.

Purpose: To examine the impact of residual limb osteomyelitis (RLO) on the rehabilitation of lower limb amputees., Method: Retrospective review of the case notes of patients with RLO. Information sought included details of amputation, clinical features of investigations for and management of RLO and its effect on rehabilitation., Results: There were seven transfemoral and three transtibial amputees. Indications for amputation were vascular disease in nine cases, trauma in one. In each case, delayed wound healing or residual limb pain prompted radiological, hematological and microbiological investigations. Average time between amputation and diagnosis was 187 days. One patient died before treatment commenced. Two transtibial amputees were treated with intravenous antibiotics while rehabilitating using pylons. The remaining seven transfemoral amputees required surgical intervention and intravenous antibiotics. Five achieved independent ambulation following modification to or replacement of the originally cast prosthesis, averaging 408 days between amputation and commencement of rehabilitation. Two patients have not engaged in rehabilitation., Conclusion: RLO delays rehabilitation and has significant financial implications, incurred by prolonged hospitalisation, radiological investigations and prosthetic modifications. RLO should be considered in any case of delayed wound healing or residual limb pain in amputees, as earlier diagnosis may reduce the time to commencement of rehabilitation and subsequent independent ambulation.

Purpose: To develop a valid measure of lower limb amputee mobility suitable for routine clinical use, including monitoring change., Methods: The Special Interest Group in Amputee Medicine (SIGAM) described a single-item scale comprising six clinical grades (A-F) of amputee mobility. A self-report questionnaire was developed and algorithm designed to facilitate grade assignment. Reproducibility of the questionnaire and grades were assessed in 62 amputees. Concurrent validity and sensitivity to change were investigated using the timed walking test (TWT). The mobility construct was examined in 200 amputees, using item response theory, by co-calibration with the Rivermead Mobility Index (RMI) on the same patients., Results: Patients included 144 males and 66 females, aged 13-90. Intraclass correlation coefficients and reproducibility kappa values were satisfactory. Observers agreed 100% in using the algorithm. TWT improved as SIGAM grade increased. Examination of psychometric properties revealed the SIGAM item fitted within the RMI mobility matrix. Average measures for the six grades were ordered correctly. There was no local dependency or differential item functioning for clinically relevant patient subgroups. The SIGAM scale showed an effect size of 10.66., Conclusions: The SIGAM mobility grades represent a novel, valid, clinically useful measure of amputee mobility which is also sensitive to change.