LOWER-LIMB AMPUTEES IN SOUTHERN FINLAND

The purpose of this study was to look at the current epidemiological t rends of lower limb amputees in 1992 in the area of Southern Finland w ith 1.2 million inhabitants. Similar data was collected earlier in 198 4-85 and 1989. The amputation incidence was found to be 27.4 per 100,0 00 inhabitants. The transtibial/trans-femoral ratio was 0.78. The perc entage of prosthetic fitting among patients undergoing unilateral tran s-tibial amputation was 68% and the corresponding figure among the tra ns-femoral patients was 35%. The epidemiological data showed an improv ement on that found 8 years earlier although the overall age structure is shifting upwards.