MAJOR LIMB AMPUTATIONS: OUR EXPERIENCE IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL, VISAKHAPATNAM

The purpose of this study was to outline the patterns, indications and short-term complications of major limb amputations attending King George Hospital, Tertiary Care Centre, Visakhapatnam. This was a retrospective study at the King George Hospital between June 2019 and May 2020. Data were collected using previous medical records of the patients. A total of 80 patients were entered into the study. Their ages ranged between 20–70years with an average age of 53.5 yrs. Males outnumbered females by a ratio of 4:1. The most common indication for major limb amputation was diabetic foot complications followed by vascular disease, trauma, gas gangrene I and high voltage electrical burns respectively. Lower limbs were involved in 77.5% of cases and upper limbs in 22.5% of cases giving a lower limb to upper limb ratio of 3.4:1. Below knee, amputation was the most common procedure performed in 46.25%. There was no bilateral limb amputation. All the aspects regarding the type of amputation, complication rates, etiologies, have been studied. In limb amputations, the indications are many and the pattern varies from place to place. Complications of diabetic foot ulcers, PAOD and trauma resulting from road trafc crashes were the most common indications for major limb amputation in our environment. The majority of these amputations are preventable by the provision of health education, early presentation and appropriate management of the common indications.