Abstract
A retrospective case control study of all rehabilitated patients who suffered amputations of the lower extremity by sepsis was performed in the HELIOS centre of rehabilitation for amputees, Bad Berleburg, Germany.
This study examines patients who had undertaken an amputation of the lower extremity caused by severe sepsis and septic shock.
Methods: Case control study. The clinical reports of 448 patients with amputations of the lower extremity clinically rehabilitated from 2010 to 2013 were systematically and statistically evaluated. Sepsis is classified in 4 categories: SIRS, sepsis, severe sepsis and septic shock.
Epidemiology: The mean age of the amputees was 61.33 years, with 25 men and 11 women. Marital status: 16 patients are married (44.44%), 7 divorced, 5 widowed, 7 unmarried, 1 unknown. 24 patients are retired (66.67%). School-leaving qualifications: 22 elementary school (61.11%), 8 secondary school, 1 high school, 5 unknown. Health insurance: AOK 10 patients (27.77%), BEK 7 patients (19.44%), pension insurance 9 patients (25.0%). The medial time of hospitalization in the clinic for rehabilitation of the amputated patients suffering sepsis was 27.23 days.
Results: 36 patients, – 8.03 % of all – with 39 amputations, suffered a loss of the lower extremity caused by severe sepsis and septic shock: 1 patient suffered an exarticulation of both hips, 20 patients suffered a transfemoral amputation (1 patient had a transfemoral amputation of both legs), 17 patients lost their leg by transtibial amputation (1 patient had a transtibial amputation of both legs). 13 patients presented a sepsis by MRSA (multiresistant Staph. aureus 36.11%), 8 patients with MSSA (multisensible Staph. aureus), 4 patients with multiresistant Acinetobacter (8.33%), 2 patients with MRSE (multiresistant Staph. epidermidis), 13 patients with other multiresistant germs (36.11%) such as Streptococcus B, Enterococcus faecalis, Enterobacteriaceae, Klebsiella.
Mobility class of amputees at the beginning of hospitalization: class 0 (= non walkers) all 36 patients (100%). Mobility class of amputees at the end of hospitalization: class 0 (= non walkers) are 5 patients (27.78%), class 1 (= only inside walkers) are 5 patients (13.89%), class 2 (= inside and little outside walkers) are 18 patients (50.00%), class 3 (= inside and good outside walkers) are 3 patients (8.33%).
Amputation of the lower extremity following severe sepsis and septic shock is not rare – in our group we found more than 8%.
