[Not Available].

BACKGROUND

Whether they are defined as minor or major, lower limb amputations constitute a severe health problem, causing high rates of morbidity and mortality and considerable social impact. Different patient clinical characteristics appear to be related to different types of amputations.

OBJECTIVES

To analyze risk factors present in patients who underwent lower limb amputations at a tertiary hospital.

METHODS

This was a retrospective, cross-sectional study of 109 patients who underwent lower limb amputations over a period of 31 months, analyzing gender, age, 15 clinical data and five laboratory parameters present at the time of admission. Data were treated with descriptive statistics and compared using Student’s test for unpaired samples (for numerical variables), the Mann-Whitney test, or Fisher’s exact tests (for categorical variables).

RESULTS

There were 59 major and 50 minor amputations out of a total of 109 performed. The majority of patients were male (65%) and mean age was 65 years (range 39 to 93). Risk factors that were statistically (p < 0.05) more related to major amputations were advanced age, stroke, ischemia, sepsis, and low hemoglobin and hematocrit levels. Diabetes mellitus, neuropathy, and palpable distal pulses were factors more strongly associated with minor amputations.

CONCLUSIONS

Lower limb amputations at different levels are related to different risk factors. Ischemia of greater severity and morbidity was associated with major amputations, while neuropathy and preserved perfusion were more often related to minor amputations.