Summary of Recommendations

Document Overview

Design and created by Guideline Central in participation with the Veterans Health Administration / Department of Defense.

Rehabilitation of Lower Limb Amputation

Veterans Health Administration / Department of Defense

Publication Date: Jan 1, 2025

Page Last Updated: May 5, 2026

Strength of Recommendations in GRADE

Strength	Interpretation	Implications for clinicians	Implications for policymakers
Strong for	Almost all informed patients would choose to receive the intervention	Should be accepted by most patients to whom it is offered	Should be adopted as policy
Weak for	Most informed patients would choose the intervention, but a sizable minority would not	Large role for education and shared decision-making	Requires stakeholder engagement and discussion
Weak against	Most informed patients would not choose the intervention, but a small minority would	Large role for education and shared decision-making	Requires stakeholder engagement and discussion
Strong against	Most patients should not receive the intervention	Should not be offered to patients	Should be adopted as policy

Full Text Guideline: www.healthquality.va.gov/guidelines/Rehab/amp/LLA-CPG_2024-Guideline_final_20250110.pdf

Document Objectives: This CPG provides an evidence-based framework for evaluating and managing care for adult patients, 18 years or older, who have experienced LLA, toward improving clinical outcomes. Successful implementation of this CPG will: Assess the patient’s condition and in collaboration with the patient, determine the most appropriate rehabilitation plan; Optimize each individual’s functional independence, health outcomes, and quality of life. Minimize preventable complications and morbidity; and Emphasize the use of patient-centered care.

Diseases/Conditions (MeSH)

D000671 - Amputation

Keywords: Lower Limb, amputation, clinical practice, limb salvage, prosthetic, rehabilitation

Health Care Settings: Ambulatory, Emergency Care, Home Health, Hospital, Medical Transportation, Operating and Recovery Room, Outpatient

Intended Users: Epidemiology/Infection Prevention, MRI Technologist, Nurse, Nurse Practitioner, Physical Therapist, Physician, Physician Assistant, Social Worker, Surgical Technologist