Statistical analysis of amputations and trends in Korea

Epidemiological research on amputees is being continued extensively world wide, but there are different epidemiologic reports from country to country. This study undertakes an epidemiologic report of the medical records of amputees in Korea which has developed very rapidly, when compared with other countries. This study included 4258 amputees who either had an amputation and/or received prosthetic training at Yonsei University College of Medicine, Severance Hospital from January 1970 to June 1994. The most common cause of amputation was trauma (66.7%), and the second most common cause was peripheral vascular disease. While amputations due to infection or trauma were the most common in the 1950's, amputations due to peripheral vascular disease have gradually increased until they now make up 23.5% of all amputations in the 1990's. Lower limb amputation, more common than upper limb amputation, accounted for 68.7% of all amputation. Multiple amputation accounted for 9.3% of all amputations, and the occurrence rate of multiple amputation was relatively higher in cases of burn injuries, train accidents, frostbite, and Buerger's disease than in cases brought about by other causes. The various amputation causes change according to the circumstances of the times, as can be seen in this study.