Amputee Rehabilitation Backgrounder
St. John’s Rehab is the only hospital in Ontario solely dedicated to specialized rehabilitation. Our amputee rehabilitation program offers care for patients recovering from upper and lower extremity amputations resulting from disease, trauma, work-related injuries, diabetes and cancer-related surgery.
- Our team of rehabilitation professionals develops realistic goals and timelines with each patient and keeps in close contact with the patient and his or her family. This helps achieve maximum recovery, independence and quality of life.
- Our highly skilled and committed multidisciplinary rehab team includes physiotherapists, occupational therapists, nurses, speech-language pathologists, pharmacists, physicians, dietitians, social workers, psychologists and spiritual care.
- The individually customized program consists of assessment, treatment and support focused on the whole person – body, mind and spirit.
- Extensive medication, nutrition and diabetes education to promote optimal health, including services and specialized foot care are available to address the diverse needs of adults of all ages.
- Full assessments provided to determine patient’s suitability for a prosthetic device. Patients also receive training with wheelchairs, assistive devices and prostheses.
- Before people are discharged from inpatient care, they often return home for a few weekends to safely practice their new skills.
- Once discharged, patients can benefit from a seamless continuum of care by being referred to our outpatient rehabilitation program.
- The specialized Back on Track Program provides rehab care to clients who sustain amputations as a result of injuries in motor vehicle and work-related accidents.
- Patients are referred to St. John's Rehab’s inpatient and outpatient programs by family physicians, specialists and hospitals in the Greater Toronto Area.
- Patients can enjoy the hospital’s 25 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens and pathways – a key element in their spiritual and emotional recovery.
St. John’s Rehab amputee program patients (April 2009 – March 2010)
- Total inpatient beds: 14
- Inpatients admitted: 87
- Outpatient visits: 5,171
- Typical length of inpatient stay: four to six weeks
- Average age of patients: 66 years
- Patients aged 55 or older: 82 per cent
- Gender of patients: 69 per cent male, 31 per cent female
Ontario amputation facts
There are three main reasons for amputations:
- Diseases such as diabetes, vascular diseases, Raynaud’s disease, Beugers disease and cancer.
- Surgeries to remove a tumor, to deal with gangrene, to remove severe frost bite or other reasons.
- Traumatic injury resulting from a motor vehicle collision, severe burn, household accident or workplace accident.
According to Canadian Association of Wound Care:
- Diabetes foot ulcers are the leading cause of amputations. Canadians with diabetes are 23 times more likely to be hospitalized for a limb amputation than someone without diabetes.
- 85% of all amputations are the result of a non-healing foot ulcer.
- More than 4,000 Canadians with diabetes had a limb amputated in 2006; an estimated 1,500 Ontarians with diabetes had a limb amputated in 2008. 51% of those with a first amputation in 2006 may have a second limb amputated by 2011.
- 30% of Canadians with diabetes will die within one year of amputation. 69% will not survive past five years.
- More than half of amputations may have been prevented by appropriate footwear and more effective nail and foot care.
- Canadians with diabetes who see their family doctor or health team at least 3 times a year are 33% less likely to have a limb amputation.
- Diabetes foot ulcers cost our health care system more than $150 million annually.