O1017: Sports Participation and Contralateral Limb Pain in Youth with Transverse Lower Limb Deficiency / Amputation

Background: Sports participation has known physical, social, and mental health benefits for all youth, including youth with disabilities. Little is known about sports participation among youth with transverse lower limb deficiency/amputation. The prevalence of contralateral knee pain and injury in adults with unilateral lower extremity amputation is higher than in the general adult population and is even higher in adults with lower limb amputations who exercise. There is little information available regarding contralateral leg pain and injury in youth with transverse lower limb deficiency/amputation.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of youth with lower limb amputation or transverse limb deficiency ages 8 through 25. We report data collected between November 2021 and March 2022 at one pediatric tertiary academic center. This data will also be included as part of a multicenter study from the Physical Health and Youth Sports in Congenital and Amputated Lower Limb deficiency (PHYSICALL) research group. Individuals were identified via electronic medical record search of diagnostic codes. Exclusion criteria included amputation related to oncologic diagnosis or upper or lower extremity surgery between January 2019 and the time of questionnaire. Participants completed an online REDCap questionnaire that included questions regarding demographics and sports participation. Youth with unilateral transverse lower limb deficiency/amputation were also asked about pain in their contralateral limb.

Results: 33 youth (ages 10-25, mean age 18; 16 male, 17 female) with transverse lower limb deficiency/amputation completed our questionnaire. History of sports participation was reported by 73% (24/33) of individuals overall; 60% (3/5) of individuals with bilateral transverse lower limb deficiency/amputation; 75% (21/28) of individuals with unilateral transverse lower limb deficiency/amputation. Basketball was the most common sport overall and the most common sport reported by females. Track & field/running/jogging was the most common sport reported by males. Table 1 presents contralateral limb pain data for youth with unilateral transverse lower limb deficiency/amputation with a history of sports participation.

Conclusion: A large percentage of youth with transverse lower limb deficiency/amputation report a history of sports participation. Contralateral limb pain is common in this population and can limit these athletes from sports/exercise participation. Few individuals sought out healthcare providers for their pain and those who did often did not recall a diagnosis. This could represent a health equity concern and underscores the need for training and expertise in sports medicine care for youth athletes with transverse lower limb deficiency/amputation.