Patter of Major Limb Amputation and Its Associated Factors among Orthopedic Patients at Asella Teaching and Referral Hospital, South East Ethiopia

Abstract

ABSTRACT Introduction: Amputation is a surgical procedure for the removal of a limb which is indicated when limb recovery is impossible. Major limb amputation is reported to be a major preventable public health problem that is associated with profound economic, social and psychological effects on the patient and family. Knowledge on the pattern of major limb amputation and its associated factors are scarce in Ethiopia and absent in local area. So this study strives to fill this research gap. Objectives: To assess patterns of major limb amputation and its associated factors among orthopedic patients in Asella Teaching and Referral Hospital, Southeast Ethiopia Methods: Institutional based cross-sectional study had been conducted to review major limb amputation performed from February, 2020 to September, 2025. Data were collected from patients chart by using kobo toolbox. Then the data were exported to SPSS version 31 for statistical analysis. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to analyze factors associated with major limb amputation by considering a statistical significance level of 5%, and 95% confidence interval (CI). Results: A total of 118 patients with major limb amputation, dichotomized into lower limb and upper limb were included in the study. The majority were lower limb amputations (79.7%) from which above knee amputation was relatively the most frequently done. Factor associated with lower limb amputation analyzed by taking patients with upper limb amputation as target group. In the analysis age [AOR = 5.99; 95% CI: 1.101, 32.580], male sex [AOR = 23.11; 95% CI: 2.771, 192.638], diabetic foot ulcer [AOR = 5.066; 95% CI: 1.041, 26.855] and PVD [AOR= 20.883; 95% CI: 4.626, 94.265] showed a significant association with major lower limb amputation. Conclusions and Recommendations: In the current study lower limb amputation is the most common type. Peripheral vascular disease and diabetic foot ulcer are among factors which showed significant association with lower limb amputation. Effective prevention strategies on complications associated with diabetes mellitus i.e. diabetic foot ulcer, peripheral vascular disease and robust research efforts are critical to minimize limb amputation and its complications. Key words: Amputation, major limb amputation