Dr. Kougias and iNSPIRe Team Publish in Annals of Surgery on Rising Amputation Rates

Aug 1, 2025

The SUNY Downstate Department of Surgery congratulates Dr. Panos Kougias and the iNSPIRe team Dr. Sherene Sharath, Dr. Sundar Natarajan, Dr. David Berger, Dr. Claire Ferguson, Steven Medvedovsky, and Danylo Orlov on their publication “Turning Tides: Evolving Comorbidity Profiles, Demographic Shift, and the Unexpected Rise of Major Lower Extremity Amputations” in the Annals of Surgery Journal.  

Dr. Kougias’s research discovered a concerning rise in the incidence of major lower extremity amputations and a shift in predictive factors to traits of metabolic syndrome. Major lower extremity amputations are associated with high morbidity and mortality making it a pivotal public health issue. Understanding the etiology and trends in amputation rates is essential to guide public health interventions and improve limb salvage strategies. This study also highlights a burgeoning collaboration between the SUNY Downstate Department of Surgery and the NYU Department of Medicine, represented by Dr. Natarajan. We are excited to continue this collaboration and build on these findings to improve patient outcomes.  

The Department of Surgery congratulates Dr. Kougias and the iNSPIRe team on their research scholarship and looks forward to future studies further investigating the clinical implications of the rise in amputation mortality.