BACKGROUND: We previously performed a systematic review and meta-analysis which revealed a Phantom Limb Pain (PLP) prevalence estimate of 64% [95% CI: 60.01-68.1]. The prevalence estimates varied significantly between developed and developing countries. Remarkably, there is limited evidence on the prevalence of PLP and associated risk factors in African populations.
METHODS: Adults who had undergone limb amputations between January 2018 and October 2022 were recruited from healthcare facilities in the Western and Eastern Cape Provinces. We excluded individuals with auditory or speech impairments that hindered clear communication via telephone. Data on the prevalence and risk factors for PLP were collected telephonically from consenting and eligible participants. The prevalence of PLP was expressed as a percentage with a 95% confidence interval. The associations between PLP and risk factors for PLP were tested using univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses. The strength of association was calculated using the Odds Ratio where association was confirmed.
RESULTS: The overall PLP prevalence was 71.73% [95% CI: 65.45-77.46]. Persistent pre-operative pain, residual limb pain, and non-painful phantom limb sensations were identified as risk factors for PLP.
CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed a high prevalence of PLP. The use of effective treatments targeting pre-amputation pain may yield more effective and targeted pre-amputation care, leading to improved quality of life after amputation.

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a prevalent medical condition associated with high mortality and morbidity rates. Despite the high clinical burden, sex-based differences among PAD patients are not well defined yet, in contrast to other atherosclerotic diseases. This study aimed to describe sex-based differences in clinical characteristics and outcomes among hospitalized patients affected by PAD. This was a retrospective study evaluating all patients with a diagnosis of PAD admitted to the Emergency Department from 1 December 2013 to 31 December 2021. The primary endpoint of the study was the difference between male and female PAD patients in cumulative occurrence of Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events (MACEs) and Major Adverse Limb Events. A total of 1640 patients were enrolled. Among them, 1103 (67.3%) were males while females were significantly older (median age of 75 years vs. 71 years; p =< 0.001). Females underwent more angioplasty treatments for revascularization than men (29.8% vs. 25.6%; p = 0.04); males were treated with more amputations (19.9% vs. 15.3%; p = 0.012). A trend toward more MALEs and MACEs reported in the male group did not reach statistical significance (OR 1.27 [0.99-1.64]; p = 0.059) (OR 0.75 [0.50-1.11]; p = 0.153). However, despite lower extremity PAD severity seeming similar between the two sexes, among these patients males had a higher probability of undergoing lower limb amputations, of cardiovascular death and of myocardial infarction. Among hospitalized patients affected by PAD, even if there was not a sex-based significant difference in the incidence of MALEs and MACEs, adverse clinical outcomes were more common in males.

UNASSIGNED: Limb amputation is reported to be a major but preventable public health problem that is associated with profound economic, social and psychological effects on the patient and family especially in developing countries where prosthetic services are unavailable, inaccessible or unaffordable.
UNASSIGNED: The purpose of this study was to determine the patterns of and indications for limb amputations.
UNASSIGNED: A retrospective study, covering a 4-year period, involving 126 patients who underwent amputation at a teaching hospital was carried out. Data on patients including indication for amputation were obtained from theatre record books and folders and analyzed using SPSS and MS Excel. Data was presented in frequencies and percentages. Chi square tests were used to compare categorical variables and differences were considered significant if p<0.05.
UNASSIGNED: The mean age of the 126 patients was 60.92(SD19.03) years with a median of 67years. There were 68 females and 58 males giving a female to male ratio of 1.2:1. Lower limb amputations were performed in 114(90.48%) and upper limb amputations in 12(9.52%) patients. The commonest indication for amputation was diabetic foot gangrene accounting for 54(42.86%) patients, followed by peripheral vascular disease 43(34.13%) and trauma 12(9.52%). Twenty-one of the patients who had amputations for indications other than diabetic foot gangrene also had diabetes mellitus. Below knee amputation was the commonest procedure performed (43.65%). One hundred and twenty (95.2%) were unilateral and 116 (92.1% ) were performed in a single-stage procedure.
UNASSIGNED: Most of the amputations in the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital were performed in elderly patients, with a slight preponderance of women over men. Lower limb amputations were far more common than upper limb ones. The commonest indication for amputations was diabetic foot gangrene, with below knee amputation being the commonest type. There is an urgent need for public education on diabetes and its complications and on diabetic foot care. The establishment of a multidisciplinary diabetic foot care clinic is advocated if the incidence of limb amputations is to be reduced in the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital.

Objectives: Several studies indicate that limb amputations have a negative influence in the quality of life of those individuals who underwent amputation surgery. The aims of this study were to evaluate the quality of life in Mexican individuals with limb amputations compared with a control group, to identify demographic and clinical differences related to the etiology of the amputation, and to determine if they are associated with the quality of life observed in these patients. Methods: All participants were recruited from the Hospital \"Dr Gustavo A. Rovirosa Pérez\". The quality of life of all participants was evaluated using SF-36. Results: Individuals with amputations of vascular or trauma etiology, showed a diminished health-related quality of life when compared with the control group (p < .001). We observed that individuals with amputations due to trauma were younger, mostly single, with more upper limb amputations and with a shorter period since amputation at the current assessment in comparison to individuals with amputations. Conclusions: Although limb amputation represents a surgical procedure necessary to preserve the life of a person, our results support that it negatively impacts the health-related quality of life of these individuals. Regardless of the etiology of the amputation, rehabilitation programs are primarily focused on reintegrating individuals to their everyday life. However, these programs may have poor results when patients have a poor quality of life. Therefore, quality of life assessment and early inclusion in programs that aim to improve the quality of life of individuals with amputations should be always taken into consideration.

BACKGROUND: Amputation is the removal of whole or part of a limb, often as a life saving measure. It is a mutilating surgical procedure altering the body image and producing severe functional deficit. It is a common orthopedic surgical procedure performed worldwide.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the pattern and indications for amputation in Federal Medical Centre, Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, Nigeria; between January 2008 and December 2014, in a bid to proffer preventive measures.
METHODS: This was a retrospective study of consecutive patients who had major limb amputations at the Federal Medical Centre, Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, Nigeria; between January 2008 and December 2014. Case notes of patients were retrieved with relevant information extracted and analyzed.
RESULTS: A total of 112 amputations were studied. The age range of patients was between 3-89 years. Amputation in 23.5% of patients was due to trauma, followed by diabetic foot gangrene in 21% of cases. About 42.9% of the amputations were above knee, followed by below knee amputations in 37% of cases. The lower limbs were involved in 84.8% of cases and upper limbs in 15.2% of cases.
CONCLUSIONS: Trauma was the most predominant indication for amputation in this study. This was followed by diabetic foot gangrene. This is usually due to the high rate of road traffic accidents and consequent mismanagement by traditional bone setters.

Terminal transverse deficiency of forearm is a very rare limb malformation. Most of the cases have traumatic etiology and congenital presentation is less common. A series of six individuals with transverse deficiency through the hands is presented in this communication. The cases were congenital, morphologically similar and showed loss of four fingers, most often postaxial. The affected arm was reduced in size compared to the contralateral limb and there was distortion of palmer creases. All cases were sporadic and non-syndromic in nature. The characteristics of these cases were concordant with the symbrachydactyly type III or monodactylous type, when classified according to the scheme proposed by Blauth and Gekeler (1973). The malformation resulted in permanent quality-of-life impairment in these subjects and warrant prosthetic management. Detailed physical and phenotypic features of the patients have been presented.

While ample research has examined the psychological experiences of men with limb amputations, minimal research has examined the psychological experiences of women with limb amputations. The present study utilizes a qualitative design to examine coping and posttraumatic growth in women with limb amputations. Thirty women completed the posttraumatic growth inventory (PTGI) and provided open-ended responses about coping, social support, discrimination, support groups, and acceptance. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to discern emergent and superordinate themes in qualitative responses. Superordinate themes included social support (friendships/family and community), self-beliefs, resources, physical complications, spirituality, specific strategies, and acceptance. Concerns related specifically to participants\' gender identity included appearance and motherhood. Overall, women reported moderate-to-high PTGI scores. The current findings address a void in the literature by illuminating the unique perspective of women with amputations. Future research should use quantitative methodology to expand on our research findings, as well as assess interventions to assist women adjusting to limb loss.