The Indirect Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Lower Extremity Amputations – An Australian Study

Figures & data

Table 1 Patient Demographics

	Pre-Pandemic (n=1768)	Pandemic (n=1847)	p value
Age* (mean±SD in years)	67±13.6	68±13.4	0.142
Gender^&
Female	410 (23%)	412 (22.3%)	0.552
Male	1358 (77%)	1435 (77.7%)
IHD	1273 (72%)	940 (50.9%)	< 0.001
Diabetes^&	1329 (75.2%)	1442 (78.1%)	0.032

Notes: *Student’s t-test. ^&Chi-square test.

Abbreviations: SD, Standard deviation; IHD, Ischemic heart disease.

Table 2 Number of Amputations in Pre-Pandemic and Pandemic Groups

	Pre-Pandemic	Pandemic	% change	p value
Total amputations^&	1768	1847	4.3%	0.189
Major^&	392 (22%)	468 (25%)	19.4%	0.010
AKA^&	120 (7%)	149 (8%)	24.2%	0.077
BKA^&	272 (15%)	318 (17%)	16.9%	0.058
Minor^&	1376 (78%)	1379 (75%)	0.22%	0.954
Forefoot^&	236 (13%)	228 (12%)	−3.4%	0.710
Toe^&	1140 (64%)	1152 (62%)	1.1%	0.802

Note: ^&Chi-square test.

Table 3 Indications for Amputation in Pre-Pandemic and Pandemic Groups

Indication	Pre-Pandemic (n=1768)	Pandemic (n=1847)	% change	p value
Infection^&	1059 (59.9%)	1085 (58.7%)	2.5%	0.574
Ulcer (non-arterial) ^&	171 (9.7%)	171 9.3%)	0%	-
Ulcer/gangrene (arterial) ^&	474 (26.8%)	526 (28.5%)	11%	0.100
Acute ischaemia^&	43 (2.4%)	41 (2.2%)	−4.7%	0.827
Rest pain^&	21 (1.2%)	24 (1.3%)	14.3%	0.655

Note: ^&Chi-square test.

Table 4 Indications for Major and Minor Amputations in Pre-Pandemic and Pandemic Groups

Indication	Major Amputations				Minor Amputations
	Pre-Pandemic	Pandemic	% Change	p-value	Pre-Pandemic	Pandemic	% Change	p value
Infection^&	176	206	17%	0.125	794	879	11%	0.038
Ulcer (non- arterial) ^&	24	31	29%	0.345	147	140	−5%	0.679
Ulcer/gangrene (arterial) ^&	133	170	28%	0.034	341	356	4%	0.57
Acute ischaemia^&	40	37	−8%	0.732	4	4	0	-
Rest pain^&	20	24	20%	0.546	0	0	-	-

Note: ^&Chi-square test.

Table 5 Surgery Type in Pre-Pandemic and Pandemic Groups

Type of Surgery	Pre-Pandemic (n= 1768)	Pandemic (n = 1847)	% Change	p value
Emergency^&	464 (26.2%)	379 (20.5%)	−18.3%	0.003
Semi-urgent^&	761 (43%)	1003 (54.3%)	32%	<0.001
Elective^&	543 (30.7%)	465 (25.2%)	−14.4%	0.014

Note: ^&Chi-square test.

Data Sharing Statement

The dataset is available on demand from the corresponding author.