Barriers to outcome measure administration and completion at discharge from inpatient rehabilitation of people with amputation

We performed a retrospective chart review of consecutive patients discharged from an inpatient amputee rehabilitation program over a 2 yr period (January 2010-December 2011). Our objective was to determine barriers to the completion of a standardized maximum walk test (MWT) at discharge. Over the study period, there were 190 discharges. The sample had a mean age of 63.5 yr (standard deviation [SD] +/- 14.2 yr), was 71.6% male, and had a majority of transtibial amputation (67%). The average length of inpatient stay was 28.1 d (SD +/- 13.2 d). MWT including distance and time was completed in 149 (78%) of the discharges; the main factors limiting patient performance on this measure were cardiorespiratory fatigue (53%), lower-limb pain (24%), back pain (12%), and skin problems (6%). Among those patients who completed the MWT, in 31% no limiting factor was identified. Forty-one discharge MWTs were not completed as a result of nonambulatory status (34%), acute illness (17%), limb pain (7%), skin problems (12%), or other reasons. Knowing these limitations may direct care from a clinical standpoint and provides valuable data for research planning to further examine outcome measures in this population.