title: Children with limb deficiencies: demographic characteristics.
abstract: The aim of this study is to determine the demographic data for amputations in children in relation of age, sex, level and cause of amputation. Data were collected from the records of amputees who attended the prosthetic clinic at the Royal Rehabilitation Center, King Hussein Medical Centre, Jordan, between 1 January 1995 and 31 December 2005. Demographic data (age, sex, level and cause of amputation) were analyzed. Some 120 children with different levels of amputation were included with mean age of 6.2 years. There were 64 (53.3%) males and 56 (46.7%) females. Male to female ratio was 1.15:1. The dominant level of amputation was trans-radial in 10 patients (15.62%) in the upper limb and trans-tibial in 18 patients (28.12%) in the lower limb. The dominant cause of amputation was congenital deficiency in 56 patients (46.67%) followed by trauma in 48 (40%). The results of this study presented greater similarities to others in the literature, congenital limb deficiency being the dominant cause of amputation in children. This study helps in planning the needs for materials and budgets for the treatment of amputee children in Jordan.
authors.affiliation: Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Department, Royal Rehabilitation Centre, King Hussein MedicalCentre, Amman, Jordan. abdfalwr@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Abdel Fattah
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Al-Worikat
authors.forename: Walid
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Dameh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D000671:Amputation, Surgical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000673:Amputation, Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology; D000674:Amputees / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007597:Jordan / Q000453:epidemiology; D017880:Limb Deformities, Congenital / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution