The Danish Amputation Register 1972-1984

Abstract

The DAR was established in 1972 for the purpose of collecting data on major upper and lower extremity amputations as well as details on corresponding prosthetic fitting in Denmark. During phase 1 (1972-1980) voluntary reports were submitted by surgical departments and prosthetic manufacturers, totaling about 5000. During phase 2 (1978-1984) data on all amputations in Denmark were supplied on a yearly basis by the National Patient Register, a division of the National Health Board. The information collected during phase 1 is rather detailed, but does not represent the entire national output. The phase 2 data are less detailed, but yield full national coverage. The information is compatible as to distribution of age, sex and etiology. The methods and present status of dataprocessing are described and the planning for the foreseeable future is outlined.

Primary survival and prosthetic fitting of lower limb amputees

“…Despite the long tradition of medical statistics compiled by the National Board of Health in Finland, no general statistics are available on the etiological factors in amputations, the incidence of amputation, their complications, postoperative death, the duration of hospitalization, the number and type of prostheses fitted, the degree of mobility and other items of basic social information. In order to obtain information on these standard parameters the creation in Finland of an amputation register similar to the Danish Amputation Register (Ebskov, 1986) should be considered. Such a register would also permit the analysis of trends and the prediction of future needs in terms of staffing and financial resources.…”

Lower limb amputations in Southern Finland 1984-1985

“…there is an amputation register in Denmark (Ebskov. 1983: Ebskov. 1986, and in Sweden Hansson (1964) has published a well-documented study on rhe amputee population.…”

Relative mortality in lower limb amputees with diabetes mellitus

“…Since 1978 the Danish Amputation Register (DAR) has based its statistics on data from the National Patient Register (Ebskov, 1977;Ebskov, 1986), as also is the case in the present study. Further information is used from the Central Bureau of Personal Registration (CBPR), in which all Danish residents are recorded by means of a personal identification number.…”