Health Care Utilization After Major Limb Loss in Adults (18-64) Receiving Care in the Military Health System From 2001 to 2017

Abstract

Objective: To characterize and quantify health care utilization of Military Health System beneficiaries with major limb loss.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Military treatment facilities and civilian health care facilities that accept TRICARE insurance across the United States.

Participants: A total 5950 adult Military Health System beneficiaries with major limb amputation(s) acquired between January 1st, 2001, and September 30th, 2017 (N=5950).

Interventions: Not applicable.

Main outcome measures: This study was an exploratory analysis designed to identify common care specialties, services, and devices utilized by Military Health System beneficiaries with major limb loss.

Results: Most beneficiaries were retirees/dependents (63.3%), men (73.1%), and had a single amputation (88.7%), with a mean age of 42 years. Differences between beneficiary categories were found. Active-duty service members used a larger proportion of inpatient, emergency, primary care, physical and occupational therapy, prosthetics and orthotics, physical medicine and rehabilitation, and psychiatry services than retirees/dependents. Most common procedures included "revision of amputation stump" (57.2%) for the active-duty population and "other amputation below knee" (24.3%) for the retirees/dependents.

Conclusions: These findings highlight the rehabilitation trajectories of beneficiaries receiving treatment for major limb loss in military and civilian care settings. The results could inform staffing decisions and training programs for military treatment facilities, American trauma centers, rehabilitation hospitals, and outpatient health care providers treating individuals with amputation.

Keywords: Amputation; Facilities and Services Utilization; Military Health Services; Rehabilitation; Surgical; Traumatic.