[Major Causes Of Limb Amputations At The Hospital In Sikasso]

In this study, we aimed to determine the major causes of limb amputations to improve its treatment.

We conducted a-18 month prospective study from March 2015 to September 2016 at the Hospital of Sikasso, a hospital of second reference in Mali.

We carried out 50 major limb amputations including 25 men and 25 women aged 38.9 years old on average with extremes of 3 and 80 years old. The amputed limb was the upperlimb in 38 cases (76%) and the lowerlimb in 12 cases (24%). Housewives were the most represented with 18 cases (36%), followed by farmers with 15 cases (30%). The amputation was done immediately or in delayed emergency in 32 cases (54%). Trauma was the most frequent etiology with 13 cases (26%). The post-operative complications have been met in 47 cases. They have been dominated by stump pain and delayed healing in 23 cases (49%) each, suppuration in 10 cases (21%) and the stump necrosis in 3 cases (7%). The mortality rate was 8% (4 cases). We have made prosthetic apparatus for18 patients (36%).

The limb amputation is frequent and youths were the most involved. Due the lack of financial support, 64% of our patients could not afford prosthesis.