A 15 year survey of Burmese amputees.

A 15-year retrospective study of 2228 civilian amputees was conducted at the Hospital for the Disabled, Thamaing, Rangoon. It was demonstrated that utilization of appropriate technology for development of essential components had enabled the hospital to serve more amputees. The ratio of male to female was 4.23: 1. The mean age was 31 years, male slightly older than female. Trauma was the leading cause of upper limb amputations (87%). In the lower limb although trauma (47%) was the prominent cause, disease (41%) was a close second. Major specific causes of trauma were gun-shot/explosion (25%), railway accident (20%) and road accident (19%). Leading specific causes of disease were leprosy (25%), vascular disease (24%) and gangrene (23%). Unless appropriate and effective preventive measures are instituted man-power drainage and demand for prosthetic services will continue.