Return to work status in lower limb amputees in Karnataka

Lower limb amputations comprise a considerable number, with 54.3 lakh Indians having a locomotor disability. There are roughly 0.62 amputees in India per thousand population. This translates to ten lakh individuals in the country. Most patients with lower limb amputations are young, active-earning males around 25-45 years.

Due to lack of education, delayed access to rehabilitation and prosthetic services, mobility issues and using public transportation, negative public perceptions of disability, poor mental health, social isolation, there are restrictions on participation in the years following lower limb amputation .

The sources of emotional support are probably different from India than the Western world as the familial ties are stronger and provide close supervision and support, due to which the experiences of amputees in India might differ.

Previous research suggests that in the western population an average of 54% return to work. They use a prosthetic device and can regain basic physical function.

In addition, people with amputation are likely to develop multiple health complications, such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, osteoarthritis, residual limb pain, and low back pain .

An amputee requires both physical and psychological adaptation and can be one of the most debilitating outcomes for patients, mainly if employed at the time of amputation. . The most frequent reasons for the long time taken to return to work were stump problems and problems in wound healing(85%), problems with the job reintegration process(46%), and mental problems (23%)

An amputee’s return to work status has a significant economic impact on them considering it is a health problem.

The literature review identified that lower limb amputation has an effect on their return-to-work status due to various factors; primarily pain, phantom limb sensation, level of amputation, duration after amputation. An average of 56% of amputees return-to-work. Amputees who changed their job had a high return-to-work status. Usage of rehabilitation services by amputees were low.

There are no Indian studies that find the return-to-work status in lower-limb amputees. A few studies in the western countries have reported RTW. Still, due to contextual differences, the generalization of those findings to the Indian context is limited.

Need for the study

• Most amputees are at their prime age at time of amputation. An impact on their work status will have a disturbance in the economy of the country.

• Considering the statistics of ten lakh amputees, especially in a developing country like India. There are limited findings on the return-to-work status and the factors affecting it.

• Hence, there is a need to study the return to work, and its factors on lower limb amputees.

The study will help to find the “return-to-work” status among lower-limb amputees and the various related factors which may be affecting return to work for patients with amputation in India.