Time-related changes in quality of life in persons with lower limb amputation or spinal cord injury: protocol for a systematic review

Systematic Reviews, 2019 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-019-1108-3 · Published: August 22, 2019

Spinal Cord Injury Orthopedics Research Methodology & Design

Simple Explanation

Experiencing a lower limb amputation (LLA) or spinal cord injury (SCI) is a life-changing event, affecting physical and systemic function as well as having psychological and social impacts. Holistic health-related quality of life (QoL) assessment is an important tool to monitor long-term outcomes. This review intends to provide a synthesis of these previously unassessed variables, alongside aetiology characteristics, to address this issue.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

Adults (≥18 years at time of injury) with either SCI or LLA

Evidence Level

Systematic Review Protocol

Key Findings

1
The primary objective is to establish the effects of participant age and time since injury on QoL scores.
2
The secondary purpose of the review is to determine the potential effects of other variables (e.g. sex, ethnicity, injury type impairment/function score).
3
By enabling a direct comparison of different chronic conditions, disability-specific differences in QoL changes over the life course can be identified.

Research Summary

This systematic review and meta-analysis is designed to assess the independent and combined effects of age at time of injury and elapsed time since injury on quality of life in persons with chronic SCI and LLA. By taking a cross-population perspective, this review will highlight potential discrepancies in QoL outcome for each group across the various sub-domains of the two QoL scales. Given the heterogeneity of aetiology for both conditions, a comparative view of rehabilitative outcomes is necessary to identify any global failings or successes of rehabilitative practice for the different conditions.

Practical Implications

Personalized Rehabilitation

Findings can inform personalized rehabilitation pathways for specific patient sub-groups.

Improved Care Provision

The emergence of increasingly divided points of disability incidence may necessitate changes in care provision or categorisation.

Comparative Analysis

Direct comparison of QoL scores at an individual health domain level may provide insight into condition-specific challenges.

Study Limitations

1
Lack of longitudinal data in both SCI and LLA populations.
2
Heterogeneity of aetiology for both conditions.
3
Lack of homogenous outcome data for both communities and a lack of consensus around QoL scale selection.

Your Feedback

Was this summary helpful?

Back to Spinal Cord Injury