Systematic review of concepts measured in individuals with lower limb amputation using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health as a reference.

BACKGROUND: The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) is comprehensive but difficult to use in clinical practice. ICF Core Sets are one method of increasing the use of the ICF in clinical practice. To develop a condition-specific core set requires identification of the concepts measured in current clinical practice.

OBJECTIVE: To identify and quantify concepts contained in functional measurements used in published clinical studies utilising the ICF as a reference, for individuals with an amputation of the lower limb.

STUDY DESIGN: Systematic literature review.

METHODS: The concepts of published clinical and outcome measures used in individuals with a lower limb amputation were extracted and linked to the categories of ICF.

RESULTS: The 113 outcome measures identified in the literature search contained 2210 functional concepts. Of the identified concepts, nearly 90% could be linked to ICF categories. The identified concepts linked to 44 categories in the domain of body functions and structures, 56 categories in the domain of activities and participation and 30 categories in the domain of environment.

CONCLUSIONS: Using the ICF as a reference, we could identify and quantify the majority of concepts in the outcome measures used in published clinical studies. The ICF categories identified will assist in the development of ICF Core Sets for persons with an amputation.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The ICF is available in over 25 languages. Improving the usefulness of the classification for clinicians will assist in standardising clinical practice and in comparison of outcomes nationally and internationally. ICF Core Sets are designed to use a manageable number of categories from the ICF to allow application in day-to-day clinical practice.