Secondary amputation: a qualitative study of quality of life in patients after primary limb salvage surgery and after later ablative sarcoma treatment

Objective: This study focuses on how patients experience the time following amputation after primary limb salvage surgery due to musculoskeletal malignancies. Limb salvage is state of the art in the treatment of musculoskeletal tumours. Nonetheless, in some cases, limb salvage can become problematic...

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Main Authors: Veronika Vetchy, Carmen Trost, Reinhard Windhager, Gerhard Hobusch
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Medical Journals Sweden 2025-01-01
Series:Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:https://medicaljournalssweden.se/jrm/article/view/34888
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author Veronika Vetchy
Carmen Trost
Reinhard Windhager
Gerhard Hobusch
author_facet Veronika Vetchy
Carmen Trost
Reinhard Windhager
Gerhard Hobusch
author_sort Veronika Vetchy
collection DOAJ
description Objective: This study focuses on how patients experience the time following amputation after primary limb salvage surgery due to musculoskeletal malignancies. Limb salvage is state of the art in the treatment of musculoskeletal tumours. Nonetheless, in some cases, limb salvage can become problematic over time, resulting in poorer limb function and septic outcomes. This raises the question of whether amputation is indicated sooner rather than later. Patients who have undergone secondary amputation might retrospectively prefer a different approach. Design: Interview study. Subjects/patients: Patients who underwent primary limb salvage surgery followed by later ablative sarcoma treatment. Methods: Semi-structured interviews and the standardized “Prosthetic Limb Users Survey of Mobility” questionnaire were conducted. Interviews were analysed according to Mayring content analysis method. Results: Amputation is perceived as an improvement after a long course of illness with little quality of life. By enhancing the amputation environment and providing detailed information regarding quality of life afterwards, emotional pressure could be reduced and patient satisfaction improved. Conclusion: Surgical options for ablation should be openly communicated earlier when consulting patients experiencing recurrent complications that might eventually lead to amputation. Supporting factors that subsequently may help to improve quality of life after amputation were further identified.
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institution Kabale University
issn 1651-2081
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publishDate 2025-01-01
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series Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine
spelling doaj-art-bbe8f2b96a5b485f833d354172fc9a192025-01-28T10:29:29ZengMedical Journals SwedenJournal of Rehabilitation Medicine1651-20812025-01-015710.2340/jrm.v57.34888Secondary amputation: a qualitative study of quality of life in patients after primary limb salvage surgery and after later ablative sarcoma treatmentVeronika Vetchy0Carmen Trost1Reinhard Windhager2Gerhard Hobusch3Department of Orthopedics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, AustriaDepartment of Orthopedics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, AustriaDepartment of Orthopedics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, AustriaDepartment of Orthopedics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, AustriaObjective: This study focuses on how patients experience the time following amputation after primary limb salvage surgery due to musculoskeletal malignancies. Limb salvage is state of the art in the treatment of musculoskeletal tumours. Nonetheless, in some cases, limb salvage can become problematic over time, resulting in poorer limb function and septic outcomes. This raises the question of whether amputation is indicated sooner rather than later. Patients who have undergone secondary amputation might retrospectively prefer a different approach. Design: Interview study. Subjects/patients: Patients who underwent primary limb salvage surgery followed by later ablative sarcoma treatment. Methods: Semi-structured interviews and the standardized “Prosthetic Limb Users Survey of Mobility” questionnaire were conducted. Interviews were analysed according to Mayring content analysis method. Results: Amputation is perceived as an improvement after a long course of illness with little quality of life. By enhancing the amputation environment and providing detailed information regarding quality of life afterwards, emotional pressure could be reduced and patient satisfaction improved. Conclusion: Surgical options for ablation should be openly communicated earlier when consulting patients experiencing recurrent complications that might eventually lead to amputation. Supporting factors that subsequently may help to improve quality of life after amputation were further identified. https://medicaljournalssweden.se/jrm/article/view/34888qualitative, Quality of livesecondary amputationpatients view
spellingShingle Veronika Vetchy
Carmen Trost
Reinhard Windhager
Gerhard Hobusch
Secondary amputation: a qualitative study of quality of life in patients after primary limb salvage surgery and after later ablative sarcoma treatment
Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine
qualitative, Quality of live
secondary amputation
patients view
title Secondary amputation: a qualitative study of quality of life in patients after primary limb salvage surgery and after later ablative sarcoma treatment
title_full Secondary amputation: a qualitative study of quality of life in patients after primary limb salvage surgery and after later ablative sarcoma treatment
title_fullStr Secondary amputation: a qualitative study of quality of life in patients after primary limb salvage surgery and after later ablative sarcoma treatment
title_full_unstemmed Secondary amputation: a qualitative study of quality of life in patients after primary limb salvage surgery and after later ablative sarcoma treatment
title_short Secondary amputation: a qualitative study of quality of life in patients after primary limb salvage surgery and after later ablative sarcoma treatment
title_sort secondary amputation a qualitative study of quality of life in patients after primary limb salvage surgery and after later ablative sarcoma treatment
topic qualitative, Quality of live
secondary amputation
patients view
url https://medicaljournalssweden.se/jrm/article/view/34888
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AT carmentrost secondaryamputationaqualitativestudyofqualityoflifeinpatientsafterprimarylimbsalvagesurgeryandafterlaterablativesarcomatreatment
AT reinhardwindhager secondaryamputationaqualitativestudyofqualityoflifeinpatientsafterprimarylimbsalvagesurgeryandafterlaterablativesarcomatreatment
AT gerhardhobusch secondaryamputationaqualitativestudyofqualityoflifeinpatientsafterprimarylimbsalvagesurgeryandafterlaterablativesarcomatreatment