Patterns and causes of amputation in Ayder Referral Hospital, Mekelle, Ethiopia: a three-year experience

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Amputation is a surgical procedure for the removal of a limb which is indicated when limb recovery is impossible. There are different types of amputation, and their causes can vary from one area to the other. Therefor, the aim of this study is to find out the patterns and causes of amputations in patients presented to Ayder Referral Hospital, Mekelle, Ethiopia. METHODS: the record of 87 patients who had amputation at different sites after admission to Ayder referral hospital, Mekelle, Ethiopia in three years period were reviewed retrospectively. RESULT: A total of 87 patients had amputation of which 78.2% were males. The age range was from 3 to 95 years, and the mean age was 40.6 in years. The most common indications were trauma (37.7%), tumor (24.1%), and peripheral arterial disease (PAD) (20.7%). The commonest type of amputation was major lower limb amputation (58.6%) which includes above knee amputation (35.6%)and below knee amputation (23%) followed by digital amputation (17.2%).There was 11.4% major upper limb amputation of which there was one patient who had re-amputation. CONCLUSION: Most of the indications for amputations in our setup are potentially preventable by increasing awareness in the society on safety measures both at home and at work and early presentation to health facilities.

Impact of prostheses on quality of life and functional status of transfemoral amputees in Tanzania

“…Whilst some LMIC studies describe the aetiologies of lowerextremity amputation and lack of prosthetic and rehabilitation services (Agu & Ojiaku 2016;Chalya et al 2012;Cummings 1996;Gebreslassie et al 2018;Grudziak et al 2017;Loro & Franceschi 1999;Maqsood et al 2015;Ogeng'o et al 2009;Thanni & Tade 2007), literature fails to address postamputation determinants of QOL, function or impacts of prosthesis provision. Whilst the need for greater access to prosthetic services in LMICs is well established (Cummings 1996), the actual provision of these services has yet to meet those stated needs because of factors including prohibitive costs to both patients and institutions, lack of trained local prosthetics professionals and poor infrastructure for postamputation care (Harkins et al 2013;Ibrahim et al 2019;Wyss et al 2015).…”

“…Reports from high-income countries (HICs) have documented that amputations negatively impact the quality of life (QOL ), posing significant physical and psychosocial challenges on amputees (Sinha, Van den Heuvel & Arokiasamy 2011). In HICs, the most common aetiologies of lower extremity amputation are peripheral vascular disease and diabetes, but in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs), the most common aetiologies include trauma, infection, diabetes and malignancy (Agu & Ojiaku 2016;Chalya et al 2012;Gebreslassie, Gebreselassie & Esayas 2018;Grudziak et al 2017;Loro & Franceschi 1999;Ogeng'o, Obimbo & King'ori 2009;Thanni & Tade 2007). In LMICs, traumatic injuries now cause more death and disability than malaria, tuberculosis and HIV combined (James et al 2018) because of wartime conflicts and the increase in road traffic accidents associated with rapid urbanisation (Harkins, McGarry & Buis 2013).…”

Limb Salvage for Musculoskeletal Tumors in the Austere Environment: Review of the Literature With Illustrative Cases Regarding Considerations and Pitfalls

“…In multiple studies from low-income and middle-income countries, cancer is among the top four reasons for amputation. 38 39 40 41 Basic function is the typical goal for a patient in the resource-limited environment. Unfortunately, the rate of prosthesis fitting after lower extremity amputation can be as low as 24%.…”

A Prosthetic Socket with Active Volume Compensation for Amputated Lower Limb

“…The amputated patient removed parts of the body for a variety of reasons, including trauma, tumor, peripheral arterial disease, infection, and diabetic foot ulcer [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]. Unfortunately, the number of patients with amputated limb is increasing every year [ 2 , 4 ].…”