The Prevalence of Osteoarthritis of the Intact Hip and Knee Among Traumatic Leg Amputees

• Published in: Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation Vol. 90; no. 3; pp. 440 - 446
• Main Authors: Struyf, Pieter A., MD, van Heugten, Caroline M., PhD, Hitters, Minou W., MD, Smeets, Rob J., MD, PhD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.03.2009; Elsevier
• Subjects: Amputation; Amputees - statistics & numerical data; Biological and medical sciences; Comorbidity; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Female; Hip Joint; Humans; Injuries of the limb. Injuries of the spine; Leg Injuries - surgery; Lower extremity; Male; Medial Collateral Ligament, Knee; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Netherlands - epidemiology; Orthopedic surgery; Osteoarthritis; Osteoarthritis - epidemiology; Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation; Prevalence; Rehabilitation; Sex Distribution; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Traumas. Diseases due to physical agents; Netherlands; ACR; OA; body mass index; Amputation; Special Interest Group on Amputee Medicine; Lower extremity; Rehabilitation; American College of Rheumatology; Osteoarthritis; SIGAM; BMI; Knee; Prevalence; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Epidemiology; Trauma; Hip; Leg; Reeducation; Treatment; Surgical amputation; Surgery; Orthopedics; Arthropathy; Degenerative disease
• ISSN: 0003-9993; 1532-821X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apmr.2008.08.220

Abstract Struyf PA, van Heugten CM, Hitters MW, Smeets RJ. The prevalence of osteoarthritis of the intact hip and knee among traumatic leg amputees. Objective To determine the prevalence of osteoarthritis (OA) in the knee and/or hip of the intact leg among traumatic leg amputees compared with the general population and its relationship with amputation level, time since amputation, age, and mobility. Design Cross-sectional observational study. Setting Outpatient population of 2 Dutch rehabilitation centers. Participants Patients (N=78) with a unilateral traumatic transtibial amputation, knee disarticulation, or transfemoral amputation of at least 5 years ago; ability to walk with a prosthesis; older than 18 years of age; and able to understand Dutch. Patients were excluded if they had bilateral amputations, other pathologies of the knee or hip, or central neurologic pathologies. Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measure The prevalence of OA. Results The prevalence of knee OA was 27% (men 28.3%, women 22.2%) and hip OA was 14% (men 15.3%, women 11.1%). This was higher compared with the general population (knee OA men 1.58%, women 1.33%, hip OA men 1.13%, women 0.98%, age adjusted). No significant relationships between the prevalence of OA and level of amputation, time since amputation, mobility, and age were found. Conclusions The prevalence of OA is significantly greater for both the knee and hip in the traumatic leg amputee population. No specific risk factors were identified. Although no specific risk factors in this specific population could be identified, it might be relevant to apply commonly known strategies to prevent OA as soon as possible after the amputation.