Determinants of lower extremity amputations: an institutional experience.

Objective: To determine the determinants of lower extremity amputations in diabetics and non-diabetics in a tertiary care institute. Study Design: Cross-sectional, analytical study. Place and Duration of Study: Outpatients Department of the Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, from January 2007 to December 2010. Methodology: All patients with amputations reporting at the study centre for prosthesis fitting were included in the study. Patient's age, level of amputation, stump complications and associated risk factors of amputation were recorded on a structured proforma. Prosthesis and orthotic assessment were carried out. The frequency and determinants were collected to compare diabetic and non-diabetic amputees. The data was analyzed in SPSS windows version 16. Results: A total of 1091 subjects were provided prosthesis, including 847 males (77.6%). Mean age in diabetic and non-diabetics being 49.6 +/- 15.2 and 26.6 +/- 17.9 years respectively which is significant at (p < 0.001). Socioeconomic status and educational levels were significantly associated with diabetic status (p < 0.001). Amputation was more common in non-diabetic 858 (78.6%) compared to diabetics 233 (21.4%). Conclusion: This study has identified that most common and significant predictors were gender, low social status and educational levels. Other significant predictors of amputation identified were type of lesion, (infections and ischaemia), initial diagnosis acute/chronic arterial insufficiency and diabetic foot.