Scottish Physiotherapy Amputee Research Group (SPARG) Report

 

Data below is for Scotland in 2017. The total number of amputees was 798, of which 714 have data.

 

 

Age & Sex of amputee population:        

Since 1999 the median age has decreased from 71 to 66.

Average Age 66
Males % 70
Females % 30

 

More than half of all patients in 2017 have an amputation associated with diabetes.

Cause of Amputation:             N %
PAD without Diabetes 264 35.1
Diabetes 378 50.3
Trauma or Burns 21 2.8
Tumour 9 1.2
Congenital Deformity 3 0.4
Drug Abuse 12 1.6
Venous Disease 16 2.1
Orthopaedic 15 2.0
Orthopaedic – non union 12 1.6
Orthopaedic Failed Joint 1 0.1
Orthopaedic Acquired Deformity 2 0.3
Blood-Borne Infection 18 2.4
Renal Failure 1 0.1
CRPS 9 1.2
Acute Vascular Injury 6 0.8
Total 752 100

 

Initial level of amputation: N %
Transtibial 423 56.3
Transfermoral 313 41.6
Transpelvic 0 0
Hip Disarticulation 8 1.1
Knee Disarticulation 8 1.1
Ankle Disarticulation 0 0
Other 0 0
Not recorded 0 0
Total 752 100

 

Patients fitted with a prosthesis:
Number of Patients 714
Number Fitted 313
Percentage Fitted 43.8

 

The proportion of patients (all levels) fitted with a prosthesis in 2017 is 43.8%. When examined by level, 66.4% of transtibial (TTA) and 26.4% of transfemoral (TFA) were fitted.  People with bilateral below knee amputations report significantly better mobility outcomes than unilateral above knee

 

Sex Males Females
Total Number 489 210
Percentage limb fitted with Transtibial Amputation 72.9% 47.9%
Percentage limb fitted with Transfemoral Amputation 29.9% 45.3%
Percentage limb fitted with Bilateral Amputation 45.3% 19.1%

 

Limb-fitting Centres (LFC) Referring Hospital (n= number of amputees in 2017) % Limb-fitted Unilateral TTA % Limb-fitted Unilateral TFA
WestMARC (n=356) Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (n=164) 67.6 22.6
(NHS GG&C, Glasgow Royal Infirmary (n=14) 100 66.7
NHS Forth Valley, Royal Alexandria Hospital (n=3) 50 100
NHS Dumfries and Monklands University Hospital (n=1) 100 n/a
Galloway, NHS Hairmyres Hospital (n=112) 80.6 26.7
Lanarkshire and NHS Forth Valley Royal Hospital (n=39) 47.8 16.7
Ayrshire and Arran) Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary (n=19) 50 11.1
Royal Hospital for Children (Yorkhill)  (n=2) n/a 100
Golden Jubilee Hospital (n=2) n/a 100
Ayr (n=67) WestMARC satelite clinic Ayr University Hospital (n=67) 63.6 10
SMART (n=124) Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh (n=121) 46.3 34.8
(NHS Lothian, NHS St John’s Hospital, Livingstone (n=2) 100 n/a
Borders) Borders General (n=1) n/a 100
TORT (n=130) Ninewells Hospital (n=107) 78.6 26.4
(NHS Tayside, NHS Fife) Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy (n=23) 91.7 14.3
Raigmore (n=37) (NHS Highland) Raigmore Hospital (n=37) 68.8 9.1