title: Major limb amputation at a provincial general hospital in Kenya.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the pattern of major limb amputation at a provincial hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The surgical department of the Central Provincial General Hospital, Nyeri, Kenya.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and two patients who underwent major limb amputation between January 1990 and December 1995.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The age range was from one year nine months to 85 years. The highest number of amputees were in the 41-60 year age group. The leading indications were trauma, tumours and complications of diabetes mellitus, each accounting for 26.5% of the amputations done. Ninety four per cent of the amputations were done on the lower limb while eight per cent were on the upper limb. Nine deaths recorded. Only 21.5% of the amputees had prostheses fitted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Whereas amputation is a commonly done operation, a low percentage of the amputees in this study were adequately rehabilitated with prostheses. A higher mortality rate (> 55%) was associated with amputation done for complications of diabetes mellitus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Central Provincial Hospital, Nyeri, Kenya.
authors.forename: V M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Muyembe
authors.forename: M N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Muhinga
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000671:Amputation, Surgical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001132:Arm / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007630:Kenya; D007866:Leg / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies