TITLE:
Risk Factors for Lower Extremity Amputation among Diabetic Patients with Diabetic Foot Gangrene in ATBUTH, Bauchi
AUTHORS:
Stephen Yusuf, Shaphat Shuaibu Ibrahim, Abubakar Musa, Yusuf Aliyu Salihu, Friday Titus Nyako, Ngwan David Wujika
KEYWORDS:
Diabetes Mellitus, Lower Limb, Amputation, Risk Factors, Rehabilitation
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Orthopedics,
Vol.14 No.9,
September
13,
2024
ABSTRACT: Background: Diabetic mellitus was described as an evolving global epidemic of the twenty-first century, due to the exponential rise in the number of people with the condition. Lower extremity amputation is one of the common complications of diabetes. With increase in the number of people with diabetes there will also be increase in the number of diabetics going for lower extremity amputation, increasing both the financial as well as psychologic burden of treatment. Methodology: A prospective cross-sectional study of all diabetic patients going for lower extremity amputation will be done. All the patients with advanced diabetic foot syndrome needing lower extremity amputation are enrolled (Wagener stage IV and V), both through the clinic and emergency center. Informed consent is obtained from the patient after which data are collected using a structured questionnaire. All the investigation results of the patients were also documented. Data collected are analyzed using the SPSS version 29. Chi-square and student t-test were used to measure significant relationship between the variables at 95% confident interval. Results: Within the period of study, which extends from 1st January 2022 to 1st of January 2024, a total of 171 patients were recruited. All diabetic patients with diabetic foot Wagener grade IV and V who presented to the clinic or emergency department were enrolled in the study. We found a significant relationship between gender, previous procedure on the affected limb or amputation of the contralateral limb, knowledge of foot care among diabetics and risk of amputation. There was, however, no statistically significant relationship between. There is no statistically significance relationship between the level of education, occupation, presence of co-morbidity with the risk of amputation among diabetic patients with foot syndrome. Conclusion: Previous lower limb procedure/amputation, male gender, paucity of knowledge on foot care, prolonged duration of the disease and method of treatment are important risk factors for the risk of amputation among diabetic patients with diabetic foot syndrome.