Downstate Faculty Lead Landmark National Study on Amputation Trends

By Office of the President | Sep 23, 2025

Congratulations to Panos Kougias, M.D., MSc, FACS, Chair of the Department of Surgery and Clarence and Mary Dennis Professor of Surgery, Sherene Sharath Ph.D., MPH, Director of Research for the Department of Surgery, and their colleagues on the publication of their study, “Turning Tides: Evolving Comorbidity Profiles, Demographic Shift, and the Unexpected Rise of Major Lower Extremity Amputations,” in the Annals of Surgery following its presentation at the American Surgical Association annual meeting.

Analyzing more than 2.4 million admissions from 1993 to 2021, the team uncovered an alarming reversal in national amputation trends. After years of progress, incidence rates for above- and below-knee amputations have been climbing since the early 2010s. Patients are now experiencing amputations at younger ages, with obesity and hypertension increasingly prevalent alongside traditional risk factors such as diabetes and dialysis.

This landmark work, co-authored with Claire Ferguson, M.D.; Sundar Natarajan, M.D.; Steven Medvedovsky, BA; Danylo Orlov, MPH; and David H. Berger, M.D., MHCM, offer critical insights into evolving risk factors and underscore the urgent need to re-examine prevention and treatment strategies.

The study reflects Downstate’s mission and our #KeepCareClose belief, connecting rigorous research to meaningful improvements in the lives of those we serve, especially in communities like Central Brooklyn with the most significant chronic disease burden.

Congratulations to Dr. Kougias, Dr. Sharath, and their team on this remarkable achievement, highlighting Downstate’s leadership at the intersection of science, patient care, and community health.

Read the full article in Annals of Surgery.

Tags: Keep Care Close, Research