THE LIFE-STYLE OF YOUNG PERSONS AFTER LOWER-LIMB AMPUTATION CAUSED BYINJURY

In order to determine whether lower limb amputation changes the social life and free time activities of persons who were at the time of ampu tation young, a questionnaire was sent to 519 persons after trans-tibi al or higher level of lower limb amputation who were at the time of am putation younger than 51 years, amputated because of injury, permanent ly resident in Slovenia and had visited the outpatient prosthetics cli nic of the Rehabilitation Institute of Slovenia at least once in the l ast five years (1989-94). There 228 responses, which were statisticall y analysed. It was found that after amputation most persons participat ed less frequently in social activities, especially persons who were o lder at the time of amputation and also those who are older today. Cha nges in participation in social activities were not influenced by leve l of education. Free time activities changed after amputation. Some 93 persons completely changed their free time activities and only 30 wer e still interested in the same activities as before. The three most fr equent free time activities before amputation were cycling, team ball games and farm work. After amputation they were reading, watching tele vision and/or listening to radio and music and housekeeping. It is con cluded that lower limb amputation severely changes the social life and free time activities of persons who were young at the time of amputat ion.