Syed Mujaid Humail, Shahid Ilyas, Baqai F U.
Diabetic Foot: major cause of lower limb amputations.
J Surg Pak Jan ;9(4):19-21.

Objectives: To find out major cause of amputations in tertiary care hospital in Karachi and to see if it is preventable. Objectives: Case review study of 65 lower limb amputations. Patients And Methods: An audit of 65 lower limb amputations done in four years i.e. 2000-2004 at Department Of Orthopedics Baqai university hospital Karachi and Baqai Institute of Diabetology & Endocrinology. All 65 Patients who hart lower limb amputations at different levels were either referred from Diabetic Institute for surgical intervention or admitted in Orthopedic Department. Results: Major cause of lower limb amputations was diabetic foot (70.76%) followed by trauma (15.38%), gas gangrene (6.15%), tumor (4.6%), Medura foot and neurological involvement 1.53% each. Most of the patients in diabetic group were of low socio economic status. Conclusion: 70.76% amputations were because of diabetes comparing to other causes contrary to western world data. Proper diabetic foot care could reduce this incidence.

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