EPIDEMIOLOGY OF TRAUMATIC UPPER AND LOWER LIMB AMPUTATIONS AMONG SAUDI ARABIAN LOCALS AND EXPATRIATES

Current understanding of region-specific relationships and trends in amputation related parameters for the Saudi Arabian population is limited. The purpose of this study was to look at a cross-section of the Saudi population who had experienced traumatic upper and/or lower limb amputations over a ten-year period in terms of the epidemiological parameters (age, gender, and amputation side) and nationality (locals versus expatriates). Data were obtained from the medical records of five tertiary care hospitals in Al-Madina Al-Munawarah, Saudi Arabia. Data relating to 398 amputees were analyzed (age: 32.96 ± 22.68 years), of which 74% were males. Amputation frequency was found to be inversely related to the age group of the amputees. No statistically significant relationship of gender or annual distribution of amputations was found in relation to level of amputation. A considerable effect of nationality was found in relation to the level of amputation, side of amputation and gender. Further research to categorize these amputations based on the type of trauma to better understand the relationship between demographic parameters and amputation level is warranted.