This fact sheet was used to analyze the trends in the number of amputees within the population and changes in their health-related behaviors since 2011. Data from the National Survey of Disabled Persons in Korea from 2011 to 2020 were used in this study. The cases of amputation among people with disabilities have increased. Although there were more upper extremity amputations than lower extremity amputations, as amputations below the wrist account for a greater proportion in South Korea than in other countries, the number of upper extremity amputations decreased and lower extremity amputations increased. The most common cause of amputation is accidents, followed by diseases and congenital anomalies. The majority of the amputees were male; however, the number of females showed a gradual increase, and the average age also increased. The proportion of amputated patients with chronic diseases, such as diabetes and hypertension, is increasing, and medical services are relatively limited. In this review study, through the 10-year trend change in the prevalence of amputee, it was possible to infer the impact of personal, social, and environmental changes. Based on these amputee statistics, it is expected that they can be used to plan health and medical policies for the disabled.

Citations

• Impact of delayed amputation on clinical outcomes compared to that of early amputation in patients with blunt polytrauma
  Jinjoo Kim, Wanseon Choi, Wontae Cho, Jonghwan Moon
  Scientific Reports.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Risk of Heart Disease in Patients With Amputation: A Nationwide Cohort Study in South Korea
  Hea Lim Choi, Jung Eun Yoo, Miso Kim, Bongsung Kim, Junhee Park, Won Hyuk Chang, Heesun Lee, Kyungdo Han, Dong Wook Shin
  Journal of the American Heart Association.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Increased Risk of Fracture after Traumatic Amputation: A Nationwide Retrospective Cohort Study
  Hyeonjin Cho, Junhee Park, Bongseong Kim, Kyungdo Han, Hea Lim Choi, Dong Wook Shin
  Healthcare.2024; 12(13): 1362.     CrossRef
• Epidemiology and Impact of Limb Loss in the United States and Globally
  Jenny Xu, Amna Haider, Amaan Sheikh, Marlis González-Fernández
  Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinics of North America.2024; 35(4): 679.     CrossRef