Amputation rates are on the rise — especially among a surprising at-risk population
A recent study reveals a significant rise in amputation rates in US hospitals, particularly among patients with opioid-related complications. The overall increase in amputations from 2016 to 2022 was 35.3%, with opioid-related cases rising by 66%. This alarming trend highlights the ongoing impact of the opioid epidemic on public health.
- ▪Amputation rates in US hospitals have risen by 35.3% from 2016 to 2022.
- ▪Opioid-related amputations increased by 66% during the same period.
- ▪Diabetes-related complications account for about 80% of lower-limb amputations nationwide.
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Health Amputation rates are on the rise — especially among a surprising at-risk population By McKenzie Beard Published May 21, 2026, 4:21 p.m. ET See more of our coverage in your search results. Add The New York Post on Google A quiet but alarming shift is emerging in US hospitals. A new study has revealed a disturbing rise in life-altering amputations nationwide, with one unexpected at-risk population seeing a particularly sharp increase in recent years. Even more concerning, those cases tended to be more severe, often involving loss of an arm or the upper leg above the knee. The number of amputations are on the rise among hospitalized patients in the US, new research shows.
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