01323nas a2200205   4500000000100000008004100001653003900042653002500081653001500106653001500121653001200136100001700148700001400165700001300179245006200192300001000254490000700264520083200271022001401103       2010                            d10aNeglected tropical diseases (NTDs)10aSnakebite envenoming10aDisability10aAmputation10aNigeria1 aAbubakar S B1 aHabib A G1 aMathew J00aAmputation and disability following snakebite in Nigeria.  a114-60 v403 a<p>Snakebite is an important cause of amputation and disability in rural communities throughout the tropics. However, the details of the causes, types and estimates of disability are lacking. This report describes 16 snakebite victims who had amputations, including two who had above-knee amputations. The patients presented with limb swelling (16), gangrene (15), ischaemia (4) and three had possible compartment syndrome. All the patients used ineffective time wasting remedies that were potentially harmful as first-aid. The median delay to hospital following bite was 2.5 days. In order to prevent disability, efforts should be made to: reduce delay before hospital presentation; improve the knowledge of first-aid; provide effective antivenoms; improve wound and clinical care in communities; and improve facilities.</p>
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