Scottish Physiotherapy Amputee Research Group (SPARG) Report

 

Data below is for Scotland in 2019. The total number of amputations is at it’s lowest since 2012 at 766, of which 691 have data.

 

 

Age & Sex of amputee population:        

Since 1999 the median age has decreased from 71 to 67.

Average Age 67
Males % 71.5
Females % 28.5

 

More than half of all patients in 2019 had an amputation associated with Diabetes.

Cause of Amputation:             N    %
PAD without Diabetes 227 31
Diabetes 385 52.5
Trauma or Burns 23 3.1
Tumour 7 1
Congenital Deformity 1 0.1
Drug Abuse 9 1.2
Venous Disease 8 1.1
Orthopaedic 25 3.4
Orthopaedic – non union 15 2
Orthopaedic Failed Joint 2 0.3
Orthopaedic Acquired Deformity 3 0.4
Blood-Borne Infection 18 2.5
Renal Failure 5 0.7
CRPS 12 1.6
Acute Vascular Injury 8 1.1
Total 733 100

 

Initial level of amputation: N    %
Transtibial 440 60
Transfermoral 277 37.8
Transpelvic 2 0.3
Hip Disarticulation 4 0.5
Knee Disarticulation 7 1
Ankle Disarticulation 3 0.4
Other 0 0
Not recorded 0 0
Total 733 100

 

Patients fitted with a prosthesis:
Number of Patients 691
Number Fitted 284
Percentage Fitted 41.3

 

The proportion of patients (all levels) fitted with a prosthesis in 2019 is 41.3%. When examined by level, 65.4% of transtibial (TTA) and 18.1% of transfemoral (TFA) were fitted.  People with bilateral below knee amputations report significantly better mobility outcomes than unilateral above knee.

The number of those abandoning prosthetic use during the rehabilitation period fluctuates from year to year (3.9% in 2019). Of these 27 patients, 4.3% were unilateral TTA (n=14), 4.8% unilateral TFA (n=14) and 2.1% were bilateral of varying levels (n=3).

Sex Males   Females
Total Number 485   194
Percentage limb fitted with Transtibial Amputation   70.1%   47.1%
Percentage limb fitted with Transfemoral Amputation 18.9%   16.7%
Percentage limb fitted with Bilateral Amputation   24%   16.7%

 

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) 60.8   18.8
(NHS GG&C, Glasgow Royal Infirmary (n=14) 87.5   55.6
NHS Forth Valley, Royal Alexandria Hospital (n=3) 75   100
NHS Dumfries and Monklands University Hospital (n=1) n/a   n/a
Galloway, NHS Hairmyres Hospital (n=112) 50.9   21.2
Lanarkshire and NHS Forth Valley Royal Hospital (n=39) 100   33.3
Ayrshire and Arran) Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary (n=19) 63.6   40
Golden Jubilee Hospital (n=2)n/a100 n/a n/a
Ayr (n=67) WestMARC satelite clinic Ayr University Hospital (n=67) 80   n/a
SMART (n=124) Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh (n=121) 61.1   13.2
(NHS Lothian, NHS St John’s Hospital, Livingstone (n=2) 100   n/a
Borders) Borders General (n=1) 66.7   n/a
TORT (n=130) Ninewells Hospital (n=107) 81   3.2
(NHS Tayside, NHS Fife) Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy (n=23) n/a   n/a
Raigmore (n=37) (NHS Highland) Raigmore Hospital (n=37) 68.2   20
MARS (n=72**) (NHS Grampian) Aberdeen Royal Infirmary (n=68)

Woodend Hospital (n=4)

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**No data as Grampian not included in report.