Factors Influencing Quality of Life Among Trauma-related Lower Limb Amputees

Introduction: Lower limb amputation refers to the surgical removal of a portion or the entirety of a limb. This study assessed demographic and clinical characteristics of traumatic lower limb amputees and their QoL using the RAND SF-36 scale. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 123 traumatic lower limb amputees using prostheses. Descriptive statistics, normality testing, reliability analysis, and correlation tests were performed for eight SF-36 subscales and composite scores. Results: Most participants were male (87%), aged 31–45 years (52%), and employed part-time (47.2%). Trans-tibial (56.1%) and trans-femoral (37.4%) amputations were most common, with right-sided involvement (61.8%) predominating. Mean Physical Component Summary (PCS) and Mental Component Summary (MCS) scores were 50.0 (SD = 7.39) and 50.0 (SD = 7.97), reflecting moderate QoL. Reliability analysis showed acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.746). Education was positively associated with MCS (r = 0.314, p < 0.01), and level of amputation showed a weak positive correlation with MCS (r = 0.198, p < 0.05). No significant associations were observed between PCS/MCS and age, gender, employment status, or duration of prosthesis use. Conclusion: Traumatic amputees using prostheses show moderate QoL, with mental health outcomes influenced by education and level of amputation. The findings of the study emphasise the need for customised rehabilitation strategies with a greater focus on psychosocial support and vocational reintegration for traumatic prosthetic users. Key words: Trauma, Quality, Amputation, Limb, Influence, Prosthesis..