Study of children with amputation after meningococcal septicaemia

Research archive

Meningococcal septicaemia is emerging as the most common clinical form of meningococcal disease, now that improved diagnosis helps detect more cases. With better intensive care management, more children now survive this deadly disease.

However, 10-20% of patients who recover from septicaemia are left with after effects from damage to their blood vessels caused by the bacterial toxin. This damage disrupts the supply of blood to the ends of the limbs, causing death and decay of oxygen-starved tissue. In irreversible cases the result is amputation of fingers and toes or even entire limbs.

Septicaemia survivors with amputation have different problems to those of patients with amputations from other causes - they often lose more than one limb and have a host of other medical problems, including widespread destruction and decay of skin and tissue in adjoining areas. Very little is known about children's experience of amputation after meningococcal septicaemia, and there is not enough published information to help doctors look after them. Multidisciplinary teams treating them may be unprepared for the coordination of care needed among the different hospitals and in the community.

This project aims to provide information for health professionals involved in the acute and long-term care of children with amputation following meningococcal septicaemia and to identify directions for future studies. It will be based on an assessment of functional levels in 20 children and young people who had amputation following intensive care at St Mary's Hospital, London from 1995 to 2000. Through interviews and clinical observations at home and the use of standard research measures, it will investigate children's abilities and day-to-day function, in relation to their quality of life, socio-emotional development and personal objectives.