Prevalence and Overall Burden of Lower Limb Amputations in Patients with Severe Lower Extremity Injuries Following Road Traffic Accidents: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Lower limb amputation is a major public health challenge that significantly impacts the lives of affected individuals, their relatives, healthcare systems, and society at large. Road traffic accidents (RTAs) are responsible for a significant percentage of the cases of lower limb amputations. The aim of this research is to analyze the existing literature to determine the prevalence of lower limb amputations resulting from severe lower extremity injuries caused by RTAs, as well as to examine the impact that these amputations have on quality of life (QoL) and psychological consequences. A thorough literature search was carried out across three databases (PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar), and a total of six publications were included in this review. The pooled effect was evaluated in Comprehensive Meta-Analysis (CMA) software, employing a random effect model. Based on our analysis, the pooled prevalence of lower limb amputations as a result of RTA was 43.2%. Out of the six studies that were considered for inclusion in this review, only three of them reported on results that were related to psychological outcomes and quality of life. It is necessary to have rehabilitation programs that are all-encompassing and address both the physical and psychological components.