Non-traumatic lower limb older amputees: a database survey from a geriatric centre.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this survey was to examine the characteristic of a geriatric population admitted for amputation of a lower limb and to explore some of the factors that may affect the course of their hospital stay.


METHODS
The study took place in the geriatric division of a tertiary general hospital and included a close geriatric-orthopaedic liaison. Two-hundred and forty-one patients were included in the final analysis.


RESULTS
Many above knee amputations were performed, which correlated with advanced age. Rates of in hospital mortality and systemic complications were 16% and 19%, respectively. Thirty-three percent of the patients were discharged back home, and only 6% were supplied with an artificial limb. The general condition of most patients remained poor.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that despite a team approach to the care of the geriatric amputee a poor functional result was obtained. By encouraging earlier referrals from the community it is postulated that a reduction in the costly provision of antibiotics would be beneficial and that perhaps lower levels of amputation could be performed thereby enhancing the possibilities for ambulation.
Adunsky
A
A
Department of Geriatric Rehabilitation, Sheba Medical Centre, Israel. eadunsky@hotmail.com
Wershawski
M
M
Arad
M
M
Heruti
R
R
Siev-Ner
I
I
Heim
M
M
D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000671:Amputation, Surgical / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D005853:Geriatrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006757:Hospital Units; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D007866:Leg; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011336:Probability; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017678:Sex Distribution; D016896:Treatment Outcome