title: Knee disarticulation.
abstract: Knee disarticulation is a muscle balanced amputation level that can be used in patients with diabetes, peripheral vascular disease, and trauma. Patients who are capable of sitting in a chair retain an excellent platform for sitting, a lever arm for transfer, and are unlikely to have joint contractures develop. In patients who are ambulatory and have vascular disease and in patients with trauma, this amputation level provides a well padded residual limb that allows distal endbearing. The use of a four bar linkage prosthetic knee joint confers intrinsic knee joint stability during walking.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL 60153, USA.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Pinzur
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Bowker
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001186:Artificial Limbs; D003286:Contracture / Q000517:prevention & control; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000601:surgery; D004188:Disarticulation / Q000379:methods*; D005205:Fascia / Q000637:transplantation; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000601:surgery*; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply; D007869:Leg Injuries / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000637:transplantation; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology; D016474:Weight-Bearing / Q000502:physiology; D014945:Wound Healing