Investigation of body image and quality of life and problems suffering from of patients with lower limb amputation

Aim: This research was planned to determine their body image, quality of life and problems of patients with lower limbs amputation. Materials and Methods: This study is a simultaneous, mainly quantitative and mixed study.. The universe of the research was formation patients who consult to orthopedics and traumatology and cardiovascular surgery in Dokuz Eylül university hospital and have amputation surgery in last 3 years. Quantitative data was collected from 30 patients by questionnaire and qualitative data was gathered from 20 patients with interview form. In this research, quantitative data was analyzed by using SPSS package program and qualitative data was analyzed by using content analysis. Findings: The mean age of 30 patients with lower limb amputation was 47,23±16.08; 80% of the patients were male, 70% had a chronic disease, the first complaint for 56.7% of them was unhealed wounds, 63,3% had amputation over knee or knee and 53,3% had prosthesis. Patients SF-36 QoL subscale mean scores were found as; physical function 30,11±20,0; social function 36,66±27,45; physical role 18,33±30,03; emotional role 37,77±22,71; mental health 48,0±22,89; energy 36,50±20,64; pain 48,13±28,33 and general health 43,96±28,59. The problems experienced by the patients with amputation were evaluated as three main categories. These categories include; reactions after learning to be amputated, problems experienced in early period after amputation, post-discharge problems. Results: Quality of life of patients with amputees is below the middle level. Deterioration in the body image perception is above the middle. The most common problem after amputation is mobilization.