Amputations

Top Causes for Amputations: Limb Loss Resource Center

Vascular disease (54%)

Trauma(45%)

Top Trauma Causes

  1. Traffic accidents (including bicycles, trains, motorcycles)
  2. Workplace/factory/construction accidents
  3. Agricultural accidents (including lawnmowers)
  4. Firearm/explosives/fireworks accidents (includes military casualties)
  5. Electrocution accidents
  6. Ring traction accidents
  7. 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%