Traumatic amputations in a Ghanaian tertiary hospital over a 6-year period: A retrospective study

Traumatic amputations in a Ghanaian tertiary hospital over a 6-year period

Abstract

Background: Traumatic amputation refers to an injury to a limb that results in its immediate separation from the body or may ultimately lead to loss of the limb. The most common causes include falls, road traffic accidents, explosions, and armed conflicts. These could result in complications such as haemorrhage, infection, shock, and psychological trauma. Out of 160 traumatic amputations over a 6-year period, traumatic amputations were found to be more common in the groups of people aged 20 years or less (43.1%), self-employed groups or artisans (50.9%), groups with some level of education (59.7%), and with a male preponderance (85%). Road traffic accidents were associated with the female group (54.2%) and the unemployed (53.4%). The use of prosthetics among amputees is not a common practice, though they are the common remedy for traumatic injuries (45.6%). Upper limbs (54.4%) were the most common site of traumatic amputations, with 62.1% below the elbow. There was a significant relationship between the mechanism and the site of injury. While primary trauma (59.4%) was the immediate cause of traumatic amputation, it is essential to educate the public about the dangers associated with injury management by bonesetters, as well as to promote road safety education to reduce the incidence of traumatic amputations.