An International Comparison of Lower Extremity Amputation Rates

The purpose of this report was to compare lower extremity amputation rates between areas of the United States and areas outside the United States using a standard format. Twelve U.S. counties similar in size, income, and land use were selected. The rate of amputation for each county was developed following the method and definitions described by the Global Lower Extremity Amputation Study (GLEAS). The data were compared to rates of amputation for non-U.S. areas that participated in the GLEAS. The U.S. counties generally had higher amputation rates than the non-U.S. areas in this standardized comparison. The United States suffers a high number of lower extremity amputations in comparison to other developed countries. The effectiveness of prevention strategies in the United States needs to be reevaluated and new strategies explored.