title: The side-to-side flap technique in below-the-knee amputation with long stump.
abstract: Wound healing, as well as surgical and prosthetic aspects of the residual limb, was investigated in the below-the-knee amputation using the side-to-side flap technique. Of 23 patients, 74% achieved primary wound healing. The stump length ranged from 27% to 70% of the normal limb, and the mean percentage was 56%. The group with long stumps did not show increased risk of wound complication. All the patients had a nonbulbous dome-shaped stump that posed no prosthetic difficulty. This technique allows the longest possible limb to be preserved, and expenditure of the least amount of energy in ambulation.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000671:Amputation, Surgical / Q000534:rehabilitation; D001186:Artificial Limbs; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D014945:Wound Healing