Patient Experience of Recovery After Major Leg Amputation for Arterial Disease

Objectives:To date, studies of vascular amputees primarily examine quantitative outcomes following limb loss. Less is known about the patient’s perspective after major lower limb amputation. Here, we define and describe the postamputation recovery period.Methods:Qualitative study using purposive, maximum variation sampling on the variables of amputation level and times since surgery. We first conducted structured interviews with 20 participants (median age: 65 years, range: 45-88 years; 85% male; below knee amputation n = 14; above knee amputation n = 6; median time from amputation to interview = 16 months, range: 4-51 months). Findings were validated via a focus group with 5 amputees. Data were coded, analyzed, and interpreted by 2 reviewers.Results:All participants expressed the desire to have an active role in the decision to undergo amputation, even while acknowledging that limb salvage options were exhausted. Following amputation, participants described a 6-month recovery period when they learned to ...