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Published on: September 22, 2020
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Global prevalence of traumatic non-fatal limb amputation
Cody L McDonald1, Sarah Westcott-McCoy1, Marcia R Weaver2
1Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
Prosthetics and Orthotics International
|December 4, 2020
Summary
In 2017, 57.7 million people lived with traumatic amputations globally. This study estimates a need for 75,850 prosthetists worldwide to address this global health challenge.
Area of Science:
- Global Health
- Epidemiology
- Rehabilitation Science
Background:
- Limited data exists on the global need for prosthetic services and the prosthetist workforce.
- Global Burden of Disease estimates offer insights into amputation prevalence and prosthetist requirements.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify and interpret global patterns of traumatic limb amputation prevalence by cause, region, and age.
- To contextualize findings within prosthetic rehabilitation, prosthetist need, and prosthetist education.
Main Methods:
- A secondary database descriptive study was conducted.
- Prevalence of traumatic amputations was estimated using 2017 Global Burden of Disease results.
- Bayesian metaregression and best available data informed disease and injury prevalence estimations.
Main Results:
- In 2017, 57.7 million individuals worldwide had traumatic limb amputations.
- Falls (36.2%) and road injuries (15.7%) were leading causes.
- An estimated 75,850 prosthetists are needed globally.
Conclusions:
- Understanding amputation prevalence and patterns is crucial for effective prosthetic service provision.
- These estimates can guide planning for prosthetic rehabilitation and prosthetist education.
