Major Amputations in Nigeria: A Plea to Educate Traditional Bone Setters

A study was made of 100 major amputations performed on 96 patients in two regional hospitals in a 10-year period in Nigeria. The objective of the study was to evaluate the outcome of major amputations in Nigeria. The median age of patients was 30 years with male to female ratio 3:1. Ninety of the 10...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Tropical doctor 2000-07, Vol.30 (3), p.133-135
Main Authors: Onuminya, J E, Obekpa, P O, Ihezue, H C, Ukegbu, N D, Onabowale, B O
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Amputation - mortality
Amputation - statistics & numerical data
Amputation, Traumatic - etiology
Amputation, Traumatic - mortality
Biological and medical sciences
Child
Child, Preschool
Cultural Characteristics
Female
Fractures, Bone - complications
Fractures, Bone - therapy
Humans
Iatrogenic Disease
Male
Medical sciences
Medicine, African Traditional
Middle Aged
Nigeria - epidemiology
Orthopedic surgery
Risk Factors
Splints - adverse effects
Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases
Tropical medicine
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Summary:A study was made of 100 major amputations performed on 96 patients in two regional hospitals in a 10-year period in Nigeria. The objective of the study was to evaluate the outcome of major amputations in Nigeria. The median age of patients was 30 years with male to female ratio 3:1. Ninety of the 100 major amputations involved the lower limbs with the above-the-knee/elbow-the-knee ratio of 0.5. Trauma was the leading indication for 70 amputations, of these 60 were iatrogenic resulting from mismanaged fractures by the traditional bone setters. The non-traumatic indications were: diabetic limb gangrene (20); bone malignancies (9); and vascular insufficiency (1). Provisional amputation was offered in 60 cases, of these 10 had reamputation. There were eight (8.5%) mortalities. The functional outcome for this group was discouraging. Only 25 amputees affording successful prosthetic fitting and social rehabilitation. Major amputation in Nigeria foreshadows a dismal existence and emphasizes the need for health policies which are effective in controlling the risk factors.
ISSN:0049-4755
1758-1133
DOI:10.1177/004947550003000306