| Objectives. To determine whether individuals with lower extremity amputations (LEA) due to trauma and who use a high-tech prosthetic device were more likely to be satisfied than those with low- or medium-tech devices. Second, to ascertain whether the condition-specific Locomotor Capabilities Index (LCI) performs as well if not better than the Sickness Impact Profile-Physical Dimension (SIP-PD), Functional Independence Measure-Amputation Function Subscore (FIM-AFS), and the Physical Function Index (PFI) in assessing function following LEA due to trauma.;Methods. Using data from the Lower Extremity Assessment Project (LEAP), multivariate stage-wise linear regression techniques were used to construct models for satisfaction at 12 and 24 months. To evaluate the four functional status measures, the instruments' reliability, validity, and responsiveness were examined and compared.;Results. Mean overall device satisfaction was 64.1 (SD = 22.4) at 12 months versus 62.2 (SD = 23.3) at 24 months. Multivariate linear analyses showed that owning a high-tech device, being of higher socioeconomic status, and reporting few limb complications was associated with greater device satisfaction.;Analysis of the functional status measures revealed that the PFI was somewhat better than the SIP-PD at detecting change in function in the first year following injury. However, none of the scores were very sensitive to change in the second year including the condition-specific LCI, which did not perform significantly better than any of the generic measures.;Conclusions. Satisfaction measures offer subjective assessments of levels of access. Consequently, the findings here suggest that individuals with high-tech devices, higher socioeconomic status, and fewer limb problems are liable to have better access to prosthetic services, possibly getting better care, and thus are more likely to express higher levels of satisfaction.;Like device satisfaction, health and functional status measures are used to monitor and assess physical function following LEA. Generic and condition-specific measures offer different methods of assessing health status, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. The PFI appears to be a brief and sensitive tool for assessing gains in physical function immediately following injury. An instrument like the SIP may be more appropriate for assessments of disability after initial functional recovery is complete. |
