A critical review of amputation in vascular patients.
A study was made of 53 patients who underwent amputation for peripheral vascular disease over a 5-year period at West Virginia University Medical Center. The follow-up period ranged from 1 to 6 years. Data concerning operative deaths, risk factors, use of prosthetic devices, and ultimate self-sufficient living were obtained. The functional outcome for this group of patients was encouraging with modern prosthetic fitting and social rehabilitation. Approximately 75% of the patients were returned to a useful life with a prosthetic limb or in a wheelchair. Amputation is a less desirable alternative than successful revascularization, but with the prostheses available today, amputation does not foreshadow a dismal existence.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000671:Amputation, Surgical / Q000401:mortality; D001186:Artificial Limbs; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*