Epidemiological Data of Amputations in Children

Aim: The aim of this study was to identify epidemiological data and the main complications in under 15-year-old amputees of a regional reference center in Brazil.

Methods: A descriptive and quantitative retrospective cross-sectional study was made of the main causes for amputations performed in the period from January 1998 to January 2008 in Hospital de Base, São José do Rio Preto in under 15-yearold individuals. Data, including the age of the patient, gender, rehospitalizations or further procedures and the reason for surgery were obtained from hospital records identified by the international classification of diseases (ICD) code for amputation. For descriptive statistics, the frequency of events is reported.

Results: A total of 44 children, with ages ranging from 7 months to 15 years old, were submitted to amputations. Eleven (25%) of the children were girls and 33 (75%) were boys. Forty-eight procedures were performed including three reoperations: one to revise the level of amputation, one review of the stump and one debridement. Fifteen surgeries (31.81%) were major amputations of the lower extremities and 1 (2.27%) was of an upper extremity, 18 (40.90%) were amputations of fingers and 11 (25.0%) amputation of toes. The review of the stump was for infection. No deaths occurred.

Conclusion: Major amputations are less common in children than in adults, and normally involve the lower extremities. The mortality rate is low but rehabilitation is necessary.

Author(s):

José Maria Pereira de Godoy and Livia Maria Pereira de Godoy

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