title: Prognostic factors for amputation in severe burn patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Amputation is a rare procedure among burned patients. However, it has significant physical and psychological consequences which impact quality of life.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study the incidence, etiology and prognostic factors associated with amputation among burned patients in Chile.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cohort study of patients admitted to the Reference Burn Center of Chile from 2006 to 2011. Association of demographic, event and injury variables with the likelihood of amputation were evaluated by using multivariable analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Amputation incidence was 5.8% in 1090 admitted patients. Male amputee patients were significantly more frequent (p=0.01), with more electrical and high voltage burns (p<0.01) and had greater frequency of impaired consciousness (p=0.03). Multivariable analysis identified electrical burns (OR 13.7; 95% CI 6.7-28.1) and impaired consciousness (OR 2.8; 95% CI 1.4-5.7) as prognostic factors for amputation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Amputation is a low incidence procedure among burned patients. Patients who underwent amputations are frequently at working age. Patients with high-voltage electrical burns and impaired consciousness are more likely to undergo amputation. Since these are highly incapacitating injuries, it is very important to implement preventive measures.
authors.affiliation: National Burn Reference Center of Chile, Alejandro del Río Public Assistance Hospital, Burn Service, Santiago, Chile. carola_sotodiez@yahoo.com
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Soto
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Albornoz
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Peña
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Arriagada
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Hurtado
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Villegas
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000671:Amputation, Surgical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002056:Burns / Q000601:surgery*; D002677:Chile; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult