title: Amputation level selection in the diabetic foot.
abstract: Walking independence in the diabetic patient with gangrene or infection can be maintained with a conservative program of distal amputation. Patients are preevaluated for their rehabilitation potential. The biologic amputation level (the most distal functional amputation level with a reasonable potential to heal) is determined by a measure of vascular inflow, tissue nutrition, and immunocompetence. By combining wound-healing potential with rehabilitation potential, one can determine the amputation level that will most likely optimize function.
authors.affiliation: Loyola University Medical School, Maywood, Illinois.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Pinzur
mesh_terms: D000671:Amputation, Surgical / Q000379:methods* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D017719:Diabetic Foot / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D008124:Locomotion; D014945:Wound Healing