title: [Amputations in eastern Turkey (Van): a multicenter epidemiological study].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The indications for amputations vary among countries and different regions depending on many factors. This study was designed to evaluate amputations performed in the province of Van and to determine specific causes of amputations associated with geographical and cultural characteristics of the region.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 475 amputations were performed in 440 patients (345 males, 95 females; mean age 28.5 years; range 3 months to 85 years) in medical institutions of Van between 1995 and 2005. The patients were evaluated with respect to age and sex, etiology, side and level of amputations, and surgical interventions performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Amputations were the most common in the 21 to 30-year age group with 109 patients. Pediatric patients below the age of 10 years accounted for 13.4%. Of all the amputations, 218 (45.9%) involved the upper extremity, and 257 (54.1%) involved the lower extremity. Amputations were right-sided in 223, left-sided in 188 patients, and 29 patients underwent multiple amputations. Trauma was the most common cause of amputations (n=177, 40.2%), with leading etiologies as gunshot injuries (n=45), land mine (n=33) and hand grenade (n=7) blasts. Other frequent indications apart from traumatic causes were diabetes mellitus (n=86), congenital diseases (n=33), and peripheral vascular disease (n=30). Causes more specific to regional characteristics were tandoor burns (n=7), mistreatment by traditional bonesetters (n=3), and frostbites (n=3). Replantation was performed in 24 patients, of which 15 (62.5%) were successful.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our region features gunshot injuries and land mine blasts as the most common traumatic causes of amputations.
authors: Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology (Ortopedi ve Travmatoloji Anabilim Dal), Medicine Faculty of Yüzüncü Yil University, Van, Turkey. alidogan67@hotmail.com
authors: Ali
authors: A
authors: Doğan
authors: Ibrahim
authors: I
authors: Sungur
authors: Serkan
authors: S
authors: Bilgiç
authors: Mustafa
authors: M
authors: Uslu
authors: Bekir
authors: B
authors: Atik
authors: Onder
authors: O
authors: Tan
authors: Salih
authors: S
authors: Ozgökçe
authors: Dinçay
authors: D
authors: Uluç
authors: Hüseyin
authors: H
authors: Coban
authors: Metin
authors: M
authors: Türkoğlu
authors: Fuat
authors: F
authors: Akpinar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000671:Amputation, Surgical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001753:Blast Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005121:Extremities / Q000293:injuries*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*