Document Type
Article
Publication Title
Journal of Rehabilitation Research & Development
Abstract
Servicemembers with combat-related limb loss often require substantial rehabilitative care. The prevalence of traumatic brain injury (TBI), which may impair cognitive and functional abilities, among servicemembers has increased. The primary objectives of this study were to determine the frequency of TBI among servicemembers with traumatic amputation and examine whether TBI status was associated with discharge to civilian status and medical and rehabilitative service use postamputation. U.S. servicemembers who had a combat-related amputation while deployed in Iraq or Afghanistan between 2001 and 2006 were followed for 2 yr postamputation. Data collected includes injury mechanism; postinjury complications; Injury Severity Score (ISS); and follow-up data, including military service discharge status and number of medical, physical, occupational therapy, and prosthetic-related visits. Of the 546 servicemembers with combat-related amputations, 127 (23.3%) had a TBI diagnosis. After adjusting for ISS and amputation location, those with TBI had a significantly greater mean number of medical and rehabilitative outpatient and inpatient visits combined (p < 0.01). Those with TBI were also at greater odds of developing certain postinjury complications. We recommend that providers treating servicemembers with limb loss should assess for TBI because those who sustained TBI required increased medical and rehabilitative care.
Pages
161-172
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DOI
https://doi.org/10.1682/JRRD.2011.11.0212
Volume
50
Issue
2
Publication Date
2013
Keywords
amputation, blasts, combat-related, military, occupational therapy, odds ratio, physical therapy, postinjury complications, prosthetic use, rehabilitative use, service discharge, traumatic brain injury
Disciplines
Kinesiology | Occupational Therapy | Orthotics and Prosthetics | Rehabilitation and Therapy | Sports Medicine | Sports Sciences
ISSN
1938-1352
Recommended Citation
Rauh MJ, Aralis HJ, Melcer T, Macera CA, Sessoms P, Bartlett J, Galarneau MR. Effect of traumatic brain injury among U.S. servicemembers with amputation. J Rehabil Res Dev. 2013;50(2):161–72. http://doi.org/10.1682/JRRD.2011.11.0212
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Kinesiology Commons, Occupational Therapy Commons, Orthotics and Prosthetics Commons, Sports Medicine Commons, Sports Sciences Commons
Comments
This article is in the Public Domain under 17 U.S.C. § 105.