Long-Term LIMB-Q Scores after Severe Lower Extremity Traumatic Injuries

Background: Traumatic lower extremity injuries can have devastating, long-lasting effects on patients' lives. How patient-reported outcomes (PROs) evolve after such injuries is not well understood. The authors aimed to measure LIMB-Q scores after severe lower extremity traumatic injuries to determine temporal trends in PROs. Methods: The authors performed a cross-sectional study of patients with lower extremity trauma with injuries distal to the midfemur who required fracture management, limb salvage, or amputation. The authors collected self-reported clinical and demographic data. The authors also collected PRO data using the LIMB-Q, a PRO measure specific to lower extremity trauma. Primary outcomes were the LIMB-Q Function, Symptoms, Life Impact, Psychological, Sex Life, Work, and Decision Satisfaction scale scores. The authors conducted linear regressions to evaluate associations between time from injury and LIMB-Q scores. Results: The authors analyzed responses from 706 patients with a mean time from injury of 6.7 years (SD, 9.1 years). 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% CI,-0.95 to-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 with severe lower extremity traumatic injuries provides data to contextualize and interpret LIMB-Q scores in future research.