Returning to work after dysvascular lower limb amputation-A novel multivariate approach to examine relative contributions of biopsychosocial predictors.

Background: Returning to work is a key outcome of rehabilitation and social re-integration after lower limb amputation. It is important to understand what biopsychosocial factors contribute to returning to work after dysvascular amputation.

Objective: Examining relative contributions of functional and contextual predictors of returning to work in participants with lower limb amputation due to diabetes and other dysvascular diseases.

Study design: Cross-sectional.

Methods: Return-to-work outcome, biopsychosocial characteristics including physical functioning, self-efficacy & perceived ability, and socioeconomical support data were collected from a purposive sample (n = 57) in a multi-state collaborative research network. Grouped Weighted Quantile Sum model analysis was conducted to evaluate relative contributions of biopsychosocial predictors.

Results: Less than 30% of the participants returned to work after their amputation. Physical functioning (odds ratio = 10.19; 95% CI 2.46-72.74) was the most important predictor group. Working before amputation, prosthetic mobility, and access to rehabilitation care were also identified as key factors associated with returning to work.

Conclusions: Fewer than 1 in 3 participants with dysvascular amputation returned to work, despite an average age of only 54 years at the time of amputation. Physical functioning was shown to be the most important predictor, while socioeconomic factors such as a lack of access to care also contribute to not returning to work after dysvascular amputation.