TO STUDY THE LOCAL VARIATIONS IN THE FREQUENCY AND PATTERN OF DERMATOSES IN AMPUTEES IN EARTHQUAKE AFFECTED AREAS WITH RECOMMENDATIONS TO

IMPROVE THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE

ABSTRACT

Aims: To study the frequency and pattern of dermatoses in amputees in earthquake affected areas

Settings: The study was conducted at the District Headquarter Hospitals, Mansehra and Abbottabad.

Patients and Methods: All patients with amputations and associated skin disease belonging to any age groups and gender were enrolled for the study.

 Three visits were made to the research areas. The first visit was for publicizing the time and venue of camps. In the second visit all patients presenting with any major or minor amputation acquired after the earthquake were enrolled in the study. A detailed history was taken and physical examination carried out by a qualified dermatologist. The presence or absence of amputation related dermatoses were specifically recorded and treated. At the third visit all the patients who were managed at the last visit were re-evaluated and assessed in relation to guidelines provided to them.

Results: A total of 210 amputees (159 males and 51 females) volunteered for the study and were enrolled. Their ages ranged from 2 years to 85 years. Of the total of 210 cases 54 (25.7%) (31 males and 23 females) had skin lesions including ulcers in 15 (9 males and 6 females), contact dermatitis in 14 (10 males and 4 females), adherent scars in 16 (6 males and 5 females), abrasions in 9 (5 males and 4 females), folliculitis (2 males), inclusion cyst (1 male), hypopigmentation (1 female) and hyperpigmentation (1 female). Of the total 54 lesions, 31 lesions were seen in lower limb amputees and 23 lesions were seen in upper limb amputees

Conclusions: Ulcers were the most common findings followed by allergic contact dermatitis in the study population. Measures should be taken to avoid unnecessary trauma and all patients with dermatitis on the residual limb should be patch tested to determine the cause.

Key Words: Amputees, dermatoses, earthquake, Pakistan