Traditional bone setting: a risk factor in limb amputation

Over a period of ten years a total of 225 limb amputations were performed at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Nigeria. The major pathology leading to amputation was trauma and gangrene due to inappropriate splintage of fractures (63.2%) by traditional bone setters. The male:female ratio was 4.6:1 and the ages ranged from two to 85 years. The commonest level of amputation was above elbow amputation (26.6%) followed by above knee amputation. Most of these amputations are preventable if the traditional bone setters avail themselves for training to recognise the impending features of limb ischaemia as well as the introduction of some refinement into their practice.