An epidemiological study of war amputees and the cost to society

The purpose of this study was to assess the overall financial cost of the prosthetic care which war amputees have incurred since the injury occurred. Records of 98 war veteran amputees who had attended the Dundee Limb Fitting Centre were scrutinised, they revealed 52 survivors and 46 who had died by 1997 and represented all the records available at the time of the review. The number and nature of visits, the number of prosthetic limbs ordered were counted and using today's costs, the cost of these services calculated. The costs of stump socks, transport and social security payments were not included. The cost of the artificial limbs was calculated at Pound Sterling(GBP)69 million with the recognition that it is an underestimate and approximation. Despite this it shows that the cost, allowing for the underestimation, has been relatively insignificant in the total cost of a major war and the war machinery. The cost however to the individuals has been considerable with a substantial disability occurring at the prime of life resulting in a significant handicap. It is a continuing legacy that society is responsible for, as a direct result of armed conflict.