EPIDEMIOLOGY OF AMPUTATION;

Abstract

Amputation is stated to be a foremost but preventable community health problem causing intense financial, social andemotional effects on the patient and family particularly in developing countries where the prosthetic services are limited. The purpose ofthis study was to identify the causes and levels of amputation in low resource community, Sindh Pakistan. Methods: This was aretrospective chart review study that was carried out at first civilian Institute of physical medicine & rehabilitation-Dow University of healthsciences from October 2007 to June 2012. After verbal informed consent all patients, who underwent major or minor amputation wereenrolled for the study. Data was collected using a pre-tested, coded questionnaire and analysed using SPSS version 16. Results: A total of1115 patients were enrolled into the study. Their ages were ranged between 2–95 years (mean 38.40±17.38). Among total population ofamputees 83.58% were males. The most common cause for major limb amputation was road Traffic accident 38.38%, followed byDiabetes 15.42%, infection 14.26% and trauma 12.37%. Lower limbs (trans-tibial) amputations were in 47.35% of cases and transfemoralin 27.98% of cases. While for the upper limb trans-radial amputation (7.4%) were found to be more common than trans-humeral(5.56%). Other amputations were for shoulder, hip and knee disarticulations. Conclusions: Road traffic accidents, complications ofdiabetic foot ulcers, infections and trauma were the most common causes for major limb amputations found in low resource community,Sindh Pakistan. The majority of these amputations are preventable by endowment of traffic rules, health education, early preventions andappropriate management of the common infections.