Article

The number of women veterans is rapidly growing, and little is known regarding
the health and healthcare needs of women veterans with traumatic limb loss. The
objective of this study was to summarize physical and mental health conditions
and rates of prosthetic prescriptions among women service members and veterans
with major traumatic limb loss. Researchers and clinicians who administered the
Survey for Prosthetic Use contacted and enrolled 283 servicemembers and veterans
of Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom with major traumatic limb
loss. Participants provided information on health status; comorbidities; other
combat injuries; and prosthetic device use, rejection, and replacement. Of the
283 veterans, 9 (3%) were women. Compared with men, women reported more than a
threefold higher prevalence of migraine (67% vs 20%, p = 0.001). Compared with
men, women received 0.42 more prostheses per year, rejected 0.11 more prostheses
per year, but replaced 0.18 fewer prostheses per year. With the exception of
migraine headaches, men and women servicemembers and veterans with major
traumatic limb loss report similarly high prevalence of physical and mental
health conditions. Women report higher rates of prosthesis receipt and rejection
and lower rates of prosthesis replacement than men. These findings highlight some
potential issues specific to women veterans that may require additional clinical
attention.

Langue : ANGLAIS