A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY ON LOWER EXTREMITY AMPUTATIONS AT A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN SOUTH INDIA

Abstract

Background: Lower extremity amputation (LEA) is a major complication of diabetes mellitus, peripheral arterial disease, and trauma, with substantial consequences for patients’ functional independence and quality of life, and for healthcare systems. Data describing the demographic and etiological profile of LEA from Indian tertiary care centres remain limited. This study describes the demographic characteristics, indications, and types of procedures among patients undergoing LEA at a tertiary care teaching hospital in South India. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of all patients who underwent LEA at Saveetha Medical Hospital, Chennai, between January 2023 and January 2024. Patient demographics, indications for amputation, and procedural details were extracted from hospital records and summarised using descriptive statistics. Results: Fifty patients underwent LEA during the 12-month study period (37 men, 13 women; mean age 56 years, range 18–85). Diabetic foot complications were the leading indication (42%), followed by peripheral arterial disease (22%), trauma (16%), necrotizing soft tissue infection (12%), and chronic osteomyelitis (8%). Below-knee amputation (BKA) was performed in 70% of cases and above-knee amputation (AKA) in the remaining 30%. Conclusion: Diabetic foot complications were the predominant cause of LEA in this cohort, consistent with patterns reported elsewhere in India. Strengthening diabetes control, structured foot-care education, and early referral pathways for diabetic foot pathology may help reduce the burden of amputation in similar tertiary care settings.