Changing Dynamics in Lower-Extremity Amputation in China

• Published in: Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation Vol. 86; no. 9; pp. 1778 - 1781
• Main Author: WONG, Margaret Wan-Nar
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.09.2005; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Age Distribution; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Amputation; Amputation - rehabilitation; Amputation - statistics & numerical data; Artificial Limbs; Biological and medical sciences; China; China - epidemiology; Cohort Studies; Diabetes. Impaired glucose tolerance; Endocrine pancreas. Apud cells (diseases); Endocrinopathies; Etiopathogenesis. Screening. Investigations. Target tissue resistance; Female; Humans; Incidence; Lower Extremity - surgery; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Miscellaneous; Orthopedic surgery; Postoperative complications; Postoperative Complications - epidemiology; Prosthesis Fitting; Radiotherapy. Instrumental treatment. Physiotherapy. Reeducation. Rehabilitation, orthophony, crenotherapy. Diet therapy and various other treatments (general aspects); Recovery of Function; Rehabilitation; Retrospective Studies; Risk Assessment; Sex Distribution; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Treatment outcome; Asia; China; Treatment outcome; Rehabilitation; China; Postoperative complications; Amputation; Endocrinopathy; Prognosis; Prosthesis; Effort; Cardiovascular disease; Lower extremity; Vascular disease; Reeducation; Adult; Hospital; Age; Failure; Human; Hypertension; Postoperative; Diabetes mellitus; Infection; Logistic regression; Orthopedic surgery; Surgical amputation; Risk factor; Rehabilitation(human); Surgical approach; Comparative study
• ISSN: 0003-9993; 1532-821X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apmr.2005.03.025

Wong MW-N. Changing dynamics in lower-extremity amputation in China. To evaluate the current pattern of lower-extremity amputation (LEA) in a Chinese population and to identify independent risk factors for failure to ambulate in the community after LEA. Retrospective study. Tertiary hospital. Consecutive Chinese adults (N=189) who underwent LEA from 1995 to 1997. Not applicable. Pattern of LEA in comparison with previous data and risk factors for failure to ambulate in the community after LEA. The mean age at amputation was 74.1 years. Vascular occlusive disease and infection accounted for most of the reasons for the LEA. The pattern of LEA had changed significantly. The proportion of patients who were able to ambulate in the community decreased from 66.1% before the LEA to 29.9% 12 months after LEA. Logistic regression analysis showed that major amputation level, presence of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, inability to ambulate in the community before LEA, and failed use of prosthesis were significant independent risk factors for failure to ambulate in the community after LEA. A more aggressive rehabilitation approach, together with efforts targeted at various levels is required to achieve better functional ambulation level and to improve reintegration into the community after LEA.