Amputation: A Ten-Year Survey

BACKGROUND: Limb loss occurs due to different causes and has been increased in many countries. It has without exception, great economic, psychological and social impacts. OBJECTIVES: This study assesses the demographics of amputees in one city of Iran. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective study was undertaken on all of the amputees between April 2002 and December 2011. Patients’ demographics including age, sex, the amputated limb, etiology of limb loss and level of amputation were recorded. RESULTS: We had 216 patients in the study. The average number of amputations was 21.6 per year and varied from 14 to 32. The mean age of amputation was 39.26± 12.6 years. Of the patients, 172 were male (79.62%) and 44 female (20.37%); 119 of the amputations (55.09 %) were major and 97 minor (44.9 %). The most common cause of amputation was trauma and the most common was the toe. In trauma patients the mean age was 38.12± 10.25 years and 98 (83.7%) were male. CONCLUSIONS: In contrast to similar studies in developed countries, trauma was found to be the major cause of all types of amputations. Results of this study may be used in prevention planning.