Traumatic Amputations - A Nationwide Epidemiological Analysis of a developing country over 16 years

Abstract

Background Defining the impact of amputation is essential for developing cost-effective preventive health policies. Trauma is one of the most common causes of limb loss, affecting mainly the young working population. To date, few studies have investigated the epidemiology of patients undergoing trauma-related amputations and their public health implications in developing countries. The aim of this study was to analyze all limb amputations due to traumatic injuries performed in the Brazilian public health system over a 16-year period, studying their incidence, demographics, hospitalization and costs.