title: The role of revascularization in transmetatarsal amputations.
abstract: Data from 37 patients who underwent a transmetatarsal amputation from January 1993 to April 1996 were reviewed. The mean age and diabetes duration of the subjects were 54.9 (+/- 13.2) years and 16.6 (+/- 8.9) years, respectively. The follow-up period averaged 42.1 (+/- 11.2) months. At the time of follow-up, 29 (78.4%) of the 37 patients still had foot salvage, 8 (21.6%) had progressed to below-the-knee amputation, and 15 (40.5%) had undergone lower-extremity revascularization. Twelve (80%) of the 15 revascularized patients preserved their transmetatarsal amputation level at a follow-up of 36.4 months. The authors concluded that at a maximum of 3 years follow-up after initial amputation, transmetatarsal amputation was a successful amputation level.
authors.affiliation: University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Podiatry Service, 7703 Floyd Curl Dr, San Antonio, TX 78284, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: La Fontaine
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reyzelman
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rothenberg
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Husain
authors.forename: L B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Harkless
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000671:Amputation, Surgical / Q000379:methods*; D000672:Amputation Stumps / Q000098:blood supply*; D017719:Diabetic Foot / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008682:Metatarsal Bones / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome