Quality of life in young people with limb loss: a systematic review

PurposeLife after any amputation can be significantly altered and can have a significant impact on quality of life (QoL). However, most of the evidence base involves older aged amputees, therefore there is a lack of understanding about the impact of amputation on QoL and the factors that predict QoL in younger amputees. The aim of this review is to identify the factors that predict QoL in young amputees.MethodsMEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Web of Science were searched to identify articles that measured QoL in young amputees. Articles were independently assessed by two assessors. Data was extracted from the selected articles and a narrative synthesis performed.Results18 articles were included in this review. QoL outcome measures varied between studies. The quality of evidence was generally low. This review identified, gender, age, cause of amputation, level of amputation, phantom pain, ability to use a prosthesis, physical function, depression, anxiety, body image, type of prosthesis as predictors of QoL.ConclusionThis review identified modifiable and non-modifiable predictors of QoL in young amputees. Future research needs to focus on exploring the modifiable predictors of QoL as these are the aspects that can be improved to enhance QoL. Life after any amputation can be significantly altered and can have a significant impact on quality of life (QoL).Gender, age, cause of amputation, level of amputation, phantom pain, ability to use a prosthesis, physical function, depression and anxiety, body image and type of prosthesis were identified as predictors of QoL.The ability to use a prosthesis and access to advanced prosthetic technology are important predictors of QoL as they allow for improved mobility, which in turn increases independence and therefore QoL.