Top Causes for Amputations: Limb Loss Resource Center
Vascular disease (54%)
Trauma(45%)
Top Trauma Causes
- Traffic accidents (including bicycles, trains, motorcycles)
- Workplace/factory/construction accidents
- Agricultural accidents (including lawnmowers)
- Firearm/explosives/fireworks accidents (includes military casualties)
- Electrocution accidents
- Ring traction accidents
- Building and car door accidents
Who?
- African‐Americans are up to four times more likely to have an amputation than white Americans
- 60 percent of arm amputations are between ages 21 and 64; 10 percent are under 21 years of age
- It is projected that the amputee population will more than double by the year 2050 to 3.6 million.
Other
- 70 percent of all traumatic amputations involve the upper limbs
- nearly 25 percent of all amputations are due to traumatic accidents
- The most common traumatic amputation is partial hand amputation with loss of one or more fingers, at about 61,000 per year
- The second most common form is the loss of one arm.
- 10 percent of upper body amputations are of the wrist and hand.
- 60 percent of total wrist and hand amputations are transradial, meaning that the amputation occurs below the elbow.
Maurice LeBlanc, MSME, CPS Stats
Amputee Estimates
- Percentage of arm amputees: 30%
- Arm amputees worldwide: 3 million
- Arm amputees in developing countries: 2.4 million
Arm Amputation by Level
- Below elbow: 59%
- Above elbow & elbow disarticulation: 28%
- Shoulder: 8%
- Hand / wrist: 5%