The Lower Limb Amputations: Study of Indications in Hospitals in South Eastern Nigeria

Abstract

Several indications have been documented as causes of limb amputation. Indications of limb amputation are similar worldwide; however, the magnitude of each indication varies as a result of demographic and socioeconomic distributions. In Africa and most developing countries including Nigeria, trauma is the leading cause of lower limb amputations. To describe the causes of lower limb amputations in Aba and Owerri, Nigeria. Records of all patients that underwent lower limb amputation in two private hospitals in Aba and Owerri between January 1^st, 2005 and December 31^st, 2009 were examined retrospectively. There were a total of 122 cases of lower limb amputations. Major indications were trauma (73%), infections (42%) and vasculopathies (19%). Trauma indications dominated as indication of lower limb amputation for all age groups except for the 61-80 years age group where vasculopathies was the leading cause (64%). Trauma is the leading cause of lower limb amputation for this study. Therefore, reducing the incidence of these trauma occurrences could reduce the general level of lower limb amputation.