Amputations in general surgical practice

Abstract

Amputation is still often viewed as a failure of treatment. The responsibility for performing an amputation may even fall on the most junior member of the surgical team. Whatever the reason for extremity amputation, it should not be viewed as a failure of treatment. Amputation can be the treatment of choice for severe trauma, vascular disease, and tumors. In our setup amputations for vascular and diabetic complications fall under the domain of general surgeons Objective: The purpose of study was to determine the age and sex distribution, incidence of diseases that resulted in amputations, and the level of amputations done in them. Methods: A descriptive study on one hundred patients undergoing limb amputations in general surgical practice at department of Surgery, Mayo hospital Lahore. Inclusion Criteria: All the patients presented to general surgical emergency/OPD with limb pathology Exclusion Criteria: Patients with bone tumors and isolated limb trauma (referred to orthopedic unit). Conclusion: Most amputations in our study were performed in elderly persons for PVD, Diabetes mellitus being the leading cause