title: Outcome in 282 lower extremity amputations. Knee salvage and survival.
abstract: Lower-extremity amputation for arterial insufficiency was performed in 282 cases ineligible for vascular surgery. In 203 cases (Group I), amputation was elective without previous vascular surgery. In 14 cases (Group II), amputation followed recent vascular reconstruction, and in 12 cases (Group III) amputation was performed after failed thromboembolectomy. In 53 cases (Group IV), amputation was done acutely, i.e., as a life-saving procedure because of septicemia. The results as regards both knee salvage and survival were much better in Groups I and II than in Groups III and IV. We conclude that knee salvage is poor and mortality high after acute amputations and after failed thrombembolectomy. These factors should be taken into account when comparing series from different centers.
authors.affiliation: University of Copenhagen, Department of Orthopedics M, Denmark.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ellitsgaard
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Andersson
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fabrin
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Holstein
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000671:Amputation, Surgical / Q000379:methods* / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000601:surgery; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate; D013848:Thigh / Q000601:surgery; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000601:surgery