title: Lower limb amputation in Jos, Nigeria.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the pattern of lower limb amputation (LLA) and highlight preventable causes in our hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Nigeria.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty seven patients who had LLA over a five and a half year period. There were 62 males and 25 females aged between three and 83 years (mean+/-SD = 44.5+/-21.1).
  
  
  METHODS
  Indications, morbidity and mortality.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 94 LLA were performed in the 87 patients managed. Trauma, diabetic foot sepsis and malignant conditions of the limb were the main indications for LLA in 26(29.9%), 23(26.4%) and 20(23%) patients respectively. Others were peripheral vascular gangrene (PVG) in eight (9.2%) patients; chronic osteomyelitis, three (3.5%); chronic leg ulcers, three (3.5%); Ainhum, three (3.5%) and snake bite in one patient (1.1%). Above knee amputation (AKA) was the most common procedure performed (48.9%) followed by below knee amputation (BKA) in 37.2%. There were 11 deaths (12.6%), out of which eight were due to sepsis with multiple organ failure following diabetic foot sepsis, two cases of clostridial myonecrosis complicating compound fractures and a case of metastatic osteosarcoma in a child.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Majority of the cases of LLA could have been avoided with early presentation and appropriate management. A case is made for community health education on the need for early presentation to hospital for limb lesions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: A T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Kidmas
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Nwadiaro
authors.forename: G O
authors.initials: GO
authors.lastname: Igun
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000671:Amputation, Surgical / Q000379:methods / Q000401:mortality / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015984:Causality; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003906:Developing Countries; D017719:Diabetic Foot / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000601:surgery*; D007869:Leg Injuries / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D009549:Nigeria; D018579:Patient Selection; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D011322:Primary Prevention; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution