Amputation of limbs: clinical and epidemiologic profile of patients from a clinical Hospital in Uberaba - Minas Gerais

perfil dos pacientes de um Hospital de Clínicas do município de Uberaba-MG

Abstract

This is a descriptive study with the objective of identifying both clinical and epidemiologic profile of patients who underwent upper or lower limbs amputation. All data was collected at the Clinical Hospital of Universidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro (UFMT) after the project was approved by UFMT Ethics and Research Committee. From January, 2006 to January, 2007, charts from 80 patients who had undergone amputation were analyzed using a structured instrument. Results showed that 71% of the patients lived in Uberaba, 26% were retired, 59% were male and the mean age was 60 years. Amputations of lower limbs were most frequently unilateral (95%) and the etiology was non-traumatic in 81% of the cases. These amputations were associated to diabetes mellitus, peripheral venous disease, venous thrombosis and necrosis of the extremities. Concerning the upper limb amputations, data showed that 80% of the cases were related to traumatic causes. We conclude that lower limb amputations accounted for the majority of all amputations, and patients had vascular disorder and diabetes mellitus. Although preliminary, these results show the importance of preventive measures in order to reduce the number of cases of amputation associated to such complications.