Objective: To evaluate the frequency, duration, intensity, and interference of back pain in a sample of persons with lower limb amputations.
Design: Retrospective, cross-sectional survey.
Setting: Community-based survey from clinical databases.
Participants: Participants who were 6 or more months post lower limb amputation (n = 255).
Intervention: An amputation pain survey that included several standardized pain measures.
Main outcome measures: Frequency, duration, intensity, and interference of back pain.
Results: Of the participants who completed the survey (return rate, 56%), 52% reported experiencing persistent, bothersome back pain. Of these, 43% reported average back pain intensity in the mild range (1-4 on 0-10 rating scale) and 25% reported pain of moderate intensity (5-6 on 0-10 scale). Most respondents with back pain rated the interference of their pain on function as none to minimal. However, nearly 25% of those with back pain described it as frequent, of severe intensity (>or=7 on 0-10 scale), and as severely interfering with daily activities including social, recreational, family, and work activities.
Conclusions: Back pain may be surprisingly common in persons with lower limb amputations, and, for some who experience it, may greatly interfere with function.