Venous thromboembolism in a rehabilitation setting after major lower-extremity amputation

Mark E. Huang*, Jeffery S. Johns, Joy White, Kim Sanford

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective To determine the prevalence of venous thromboembolic disease (VTED) and impact on functional outcome in patients with major lower-extremity (LE) amputation admitted to an inpatient rehabilitation unit. Design Retrospective medical records review. Setting Acute inpatient rehabilitation unit in a tertiary, urban academic medical center. Participants Fifty consecutive patients admitted to an acute inpatient rehabilitation unit after a major LE amputation. Participants were screened at rehabilitation admission for LE deep vein thrombosis using duplex ultrasonography. Interventions Not applicable. Main outcome measures VTED incidence, FIM instrument, total rehabilitation charges, and length of stay (LOS). Results Six of 50 patients (12%) had evidence of VTED. The VTED cohort had significantly lower admission and discharge FIM scores than the no-VTED cohort (admission FIM score, 57.2 vs 76.0; discharge FIM score, 66.0 vs 90.1, respectively; P≤.02). Subjects with VTED had a longer rehabilitation LOS (22.8d vs 13.9d, respectively; P=.02) and higher total rehabilitation charges ($28,314 vs $17,724, respectively; P<.05). Conclusions In this study, VTED prevalence after LE amputation in a rehabilitation setting was 12%. Subjects with VTED had lower admission and discharge functional status, longer LOS, and higher hospital charges. The utility of screening duplex ultrasound examinations at rehabilitation admission remains unclear.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)73-78
Number of pages6
JournalArchives of physical medicine and rehabilitation
Volume86
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2005

Keywords

  • Amputation
  • Rehabilitation
  • Thromboembolism

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation
  • Rehabilitation

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