Abstract
Much effort has been spent to reduce the number of amputees within the last two decades, but it remains unclear how effective the different strategies have been. We analyzed the prevalence of amputations in inpatient cases in the federal statistics. Detailed lists of all amputations coded as major amputations (OPS 5-864) and minor amputations (OPS 5-865) performed in 2005 and 2006, divided into the 4th and 5th number of the OPS-code, were provided by the Federal Statistical Office. In 2006, a total of 62,880 amputations affecting the lower extremities (2005: 63,005) were performed in Germany. Because of multiple amputations within a single case the corresponding cases amounted to 55,705 in 2006 and 55,689 in 2005. Based on these data age-adjusted incidence rates of major amputations per 100,000 inhabitants increased from 2 at the age of < 50 years to 201 at the age of > 80 years. For minor amputations the prevalence rates increased from 4 at the age of < 50 years to 209 at the age of > 80 years. It can be assumed that peripheral arterial disease or neurovascular disease as the underlying disease necessitating the amputation were present in 74.9% of all inpatient cases who finally underwent amputation. There were 12.9% with non-vascular or non-diabetic reasons for amputations. In patients presenting with gangrene, the rate of minor amputations decreased with age, whereas the rate of major amputations increased, especially within the 8th to 10th decades of life. In conclusion, amputations affecting the lower limbs are still a relevant problem in Germany. At the time of an aging German population it has to be an important goal to lower or at least to stabilize the rate of amputations. The DRG statistics enable the Federal Ministry of Health and health politics to monitor amputation rates easily.