Rehabilitation Research and Practice

Ll. Montesinos-Magraner ¹, D. Issa-Benitez ¹, E. Pages-Bolibar ¹, M. Melendez-Plumed ¹, M. A. Gonzalez-Viejo ¹, C. Castellano-Tejedor ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Rehabilitation and Traumatology, University Hospital Vall d’Hebron, Passeig de la Vall d’Hebron 119-129, 08035 Barcelona, ES
2 Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Vall d’Hebron, Passeig de la Vall d’Hebron 119-129, 08035 Barcelona, ES

Abstract

Objectives: (1) To describe the epidemiological and medical features of a sample with LLA and LLD in childhood and (2) to explore their relationship with subsequent physical and psychosocial functions in adulthood. Methods: Cross-sectional survey. Demographics, medical data, Locomotor Capabilities Index (LCI), and Discomfort-Engagement in Everyday Activities Involving Revealing the Body Scale (D-EEARB) were collected from thirty-two adults who suffered from LLA in childhood or LLD. Results: Most of the sample (53.1% males) was working (84.4%), living independently (75%), and single (75%). Mean age was 33.16 (SD = 7.64, range 18-50). Leading causes for LLA were traumatic (40.6%) and oncologic (25%). LLD was present in 6 cases (18.8%). LCI scores revealed a high performance among males (t_17,464 = 2.976, p = .008). D-EEARB scores showed that 56.25% stated feeling "quite" or "totally comfortable" in situations which involved revealing their body, but 43.75% stated the contrary ("uncomfortable" or "very uncomfortable"). LLD and traumatic LLA show higher scores in D-EEARB than vascular and oncological LLA(χ² = 7.744, df = 3, p = .05). Conclusions: Adults suffering from LLDs and LLAs during childhood seem to perform well once they are adults. However, 43.75% of patients express considerable discomfort in situations that involve revealing the body.

Keywords

English

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