Misadventure in traditional medicine practice: an unusual indication for limb amputation

Limb amputation is a major cause of disability in Nigeria, and inadequate health facilities for limb salvage procedures and rehabilitation have increased the burden of amputation surgery in our environment. The common indication for limb amputation in Nigeria is limb gangrene due to trauma. A road traffic accident is an important cause of the trauma, and the role of the traditional bonesetters in the increasing incidence of limb gangrene has been reported. The complications of the traditional bonesetter's practice in Nigeria account for about 50-60% of the limb gangrene necessitating amputation in our hospitals. Misadventures in traditional medicine practice are not new to us. People have lost their lives in the cause of testing the efficacy of traditional medicine. This paper reports an unusual indication for limb amputation in Nigeria following misadventure in a traditional medicine practice in a rural community.