title: The Free Limb Scheme and the limb-deficient child in Australia.
abstract: A review was undertaken of computerized data on 547 children aged 0-14 years, treated under the Free Limb Scheme in Australia in the years 1981-85, and of children in New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia having major amputations in some of these years. The male/female ratio was 1.8:1. There were 171 children with upper limb deficits and 376 children with lower limb deficits. The distribution of the limb deficits of the children treated under the free limb scheme is shown. The ratio of congenital:acquired limb deficiency is known for New South Wales and was 3.7:1. The prevalence of prosthetic use in Australian children is 14.8/100,000 children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, Royal South Sydney Hospital, Zetland, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000673:Amputation, Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology; D001132:Arm; D001186:Artificial Limbs / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D001315:Australia; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007866:Leg; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies