Amputation Rate and Prosthetic Rehabilitation Access Among Diabetic Foot Patients at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital

Diabetic foot complications remain a devastating consequence of poorly controlled diabetes mellitus, frequently resulting in lower limb amputation and long-term disability in Nigeria. This study determines the amputation rate among diabetic foot patients and assesses access to prosthetic rehabilitation services at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH), Kano State, North West Nigeria, from 2020 to 2023. A retrospective descriptive study reviewed 175 case files of patients with diabetic foot ulcers admitted to the vascular and general surgery wards. Data collected included patient demographics, diabetes control status (HbA1c levels), wound grading using the Wagner classification, surgical interventions performed, and prosthetic rehabilitation access postoperatively. Frequencies and proportions were used to describe findings. Major amputation (above or below knee) was performed in 41% of patients, with poor glycemic control and Wagner grade IV or V wounds as the strongest predictors. Prosthetic rehabilitation was accessed by fewer than 10% of amputees due to cost and limited availability of facilities. The study calls for multidisciplinary diabetic foot care teams, accessible glycemic control programs, and government-subsidized prosthetic rehabilitation services to reduce the long-term impact of diabetic foot complications in North West Nigeria. Keywords: diabetic foot, amputation, prosthetics, Kano, vascular surgery