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Major limb amputation at a provincial general hospital in Kenya
1Department of Surgery, Central Provincial Hospital, Nyeri, Kenya.
Insights
This study analyzed major limb amputations in Kenya, finding trauma, tumors, and diabetes complications as leading causes. Rehabilitation rates with prostheses were low, with higher mortality linked to diabetes-related amputations.
Area of Science:
- Surgical Outcomes
- Limb Amputation Epidemiology
- Rehabilitation Medicine
Background:
- Major limb amputation is a significant surgical procedure with profound patient impact.
- Understanding amputation patterns is crucial for resource allocation and public health initiatives.
- Previous data on amputation trends in provincial hospitals in Kenya is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the epidemiological patterns of major limb amputations.
- To identify the primary indications for amputation.
- To assess the outcomes of amputation, including mortality and prosthetic rehabilitation.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective study design.
- Data collected from 102 patients undergoing major limb amputation.
- Study period: January 1990 to December 1995 at a provincial hospital in Kenya.
Main Results:
- The most common age group for amputation was 41-60 years.
- Leading indications included trauma, tumors, and diabetes mellitus complications (26.5% each).
- Lower limb amputations (94%) predominated; prosthetic fitting was low (21.5%), with 9 recorded deaths.
Conclusions:
- Amputation is a frequent operation, but prosthetic rehabilitation rates were suboptimal.
- Amputations due to diabetes mellitus complications were associated with a higher mortality rate (>55%).
- There is a need to improve post-amputation care and rehabilitation services.
Objective:
To determine the pattern of major limb amputation at a provincial hospital.
Design:
A retrospective study.
Setting:
The surgical department of the Central Provincial General Hospital, Nyeri, Kenya.
Subjects:
One hundred and two patients who underwent major limb amputation between January 1990 and December 1995.
Results:
The age range was from one year nine months to 85 years. The highest number of amputees were in the 41-60 year age group. The leading indications were trauma, tumours and complications of diabetes mellitus, each accounting for 26.5% of the amputations done. Ninety four per cent of the amputations were done on the lower limb while eight per cent were on the upper limb. Nine deaths recorded. Only 21.5% of the amputees had prostheses fitted.
Conclusion:
Whereas amputation is a commonly done operation, a low percentage of the amputees in this study were adequately rehabilitated with prostheses. A higher mortality rate (> 55%) was associated with amputation done for complications of diabetes mellitus.