Factors Associated With Utilization of Preoperative and Postoperative Rehabilitation Services by Patients With Amputation in the VA System: An Observational Study

Background The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Defense published evidence-based guidelines to standardize and improve rehabilitation of veterans with lower limb amputations; however, no studies have examined the guidelines' impact.

Objectives The purposes of this study were: (1) to describe the utilization of rehabilitative services in the acute care setting by people who underwent major lower limb amputation in the VA from 2005 to 2010, (2) to identify factors associated with receipt of rehabilitation services, and (3) to examine the impact of the guidelines on service receipt.

Design A cross-sectional study of 12,599 patients, who underwent major surgical amputation of the lower limb at a VA medical center from January 1, 2005, to December 31, 2010, was conducted. Data were obtained from main and surgical inpatient datasets and the inpatient encounters files of the Veterans Health Administration databases.

Methods Rehabilitation services were categorized as physical therapy, occupational therapy, and either (any therapy), before or after amputation. Separate multivariate logistic regressions examined the impact of guideline implementation and identified factors associated with service receipt.

Results Patients were 1.45 and 1.73 times more likely to receive preoperative physical therapy and occupational therapy and 1.68 and 1.79 times more likely to receive postoperative physical therapy and occupational therapy after guideline implementation. Patients in the Northeast had the lowest likelihood of receiving preoperative and postoperative rehabilitation services, whereas patients in the West had the highest likelihood. Other patient characteristics associated with service receipt were identified.

Limitations The sample included only veterans who had surgeries at VA Medical Centers and cannot be generalized to veterans with surgeries outside the VA or to nonveteran patients and settings.

Conclusions Further quality improvement efforts are needed to standardize delivery of rehabilitation services for veterans with amputations in the acute care setting.