Purpose of the study: This is a hospitals base study that was carried out to determine the epidemiologic features of amputation in Kano State, North- West, Nigeria.

Relevance: Limb amputation is a major but preventable public health menace that is associated with enormous economic, social and psychological effects on patients and their families. However, there is limited data on the epidemiology of amputation in developing countries where the impact of amputation is more felt. And prosthetic services are poor

Participants: Two hundred and ninety one (291) amputee’s case files were used in the study the participant’s ages ranged between (10 – 100) years

Methods: This was a retrospective study that examined all records of patients who underwent limb amputation in selected hospitals in Kano, between January, 2007 and December, 2011 for cause, age, gender and use of prosthetic device using a self design proforma.

Analysis: Data was analyzed using descriptive statistic of frequency and percentages. All statistical analysis was performed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) for Windows (version 15).

Results: Two hundred and ninety one patients underwent amputation (197; 67.7%) were males and (94; 32.3%) were females. Overall, the commonest cause of amputation was Diabetes Mellitus complications (DM) (103; 35.4%) followed by complications of Traditional bone setting (TBS) (61; 21.0%) and Road Traffic Injuries (42; 14.4%) respectively. Lower limbs were more involved (200; 68.7%) than upper limbs (91; 31.3%). Above knee amputation was the most common procedure performed. Cases of amputation secondary to complications of DM maintained an upward rise over the years from 5 (5.4%) cases in 2007 to 29 (30.2%) in 2011.

Conclusions: Complications of diabetic foot ulcers and TBS were the most common indications for major limb amputation in our environment. The majority of these amputations are preventable by provision of health education, early presentation, referrals and appropriate management of the common indications.

Implications: The knowledge will help in public health education and proper rehabilitation of amputee’s by physiotherapist

Key words: Amputation, epidemiology, Kano

Funding source: None

Ethical approval: This research was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of Kano State Hospitals Management Board HMB/GEN/488

Brief biography of presenting author: Bashir kaka is an Assistant lecturer of the department of Physiotherapy Bayero University and Honorary physiotherapist Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital