Patterns and Causes of Amputation in Ayder Referral Hospital, Mekelle, Ethiopia A Three-Year Experience

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Amputation is a surgical procedure for theremoval of a limb which is indicated when limb recovery isimpossible. There are different types of amputation, and theircauses can vary from one area to the other. Therefor, the aim ofthis study is to find out the patterns and causes of amputations inpatients presented to Ayder Referral Hospital, Mekelle, Ethiopia.METHODS: the record of 87 patients who had amputation atdifferent sites after admission to Ayder referral hospital, Mekelle,Ethiopia in three years period were reviewed retrospectively.RESULT: A total of 87 patients had amputation of which 78.2%were males. The age range was from 3 to 95 years, and the meanage was 40.6 in years. The most common indications were trauma(37.7%), tumor (24.1%), and peripheral arterial disease (PAD)(20.7%). The commonest type of amputation was major lower limbamputation (58.6%) which includes above knee amputation(35.6%)and below knee amputation (23%) followed by digitalamputation (17.2%).There was 11.4% major upper limbamputation of which there was one patient who had re-amputation.CONCLUSION: Most of the indications for amputations in oursetup are potentially preventable by increasing awareness in thesociety on safety measures both at home and at work and earlypresentation to health facilities.KEYWORDS: Amputation. Amputation pattern, amputationindications