Long-Term LIMB-Q Scores Following Severe Lower Extremity Traumatic Injuries.

Abstract

Introduction: Traumatic lower extremity injuries can have devastating, long-lasting impacts on patients' lives. However, it is not well understood how patient-reported outcomes (PROs) evolve following such injuries. We aimed to measure LIMB-Q scores in patients following severe lower extremity traumatic injuries to determine temporal trends in PROs.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study of lower extremity trauma patients with injuries distal to the mid-femur who required fracture management, limb salvage, and/or amputation. We collected self-reported clinical and demographic data. We also collected PRO data using the LIMB-Q, a PRO measure specific to lower extremity trauma patients. Primary outcomes were LIMB-Q Function, Symptoms, Life Impact, Psychological, Sex Life, Work, and Decision Satisfaction scales. We conducted linear regressions to evaluate associations between time from injury and LIMB-Q scores.

Results: We analyzed responses from 706 patients with a mean time from injury of 6.7 years (SD 9.1). The mean time from injury was 7.6 years in the limb-salvage group, 9.7 years in the amputation group, and 4.7 years in the fracture-management-only group. After controlling for patient and clinical characteristics, time from injury was associated with steady reductions in decision satisfaction among patients who had undergone limb salvage (p<0.001; 95% [-0.95,-0.38]). There was no significant association between time from injury and Decision Satisfaction score among patients who had undergone amputation.

Conclusion: This study of PROs in patients following severe lower extremity traumatic injuries provides data to contextualize and interpret LIMB-Q scores in future research.