[Effect of primary and secondary below-knee amputation of war injuries on the length of hospitalization and rehabilitation].
The results of below-knee amputations in 36 war wounded (mean age 35.42) were reviewed. The majority of the patients was wounded by land mines (94.4%). Most of them were between 25 and 35 years old. Bilateral amputation was done in 2.8% of cases. The amputation was performed on the day of wounding (primary below-knee amputation) in 30 (83.3%) amputees. Secondary amputation after the attempt to save the severely injured lower-limb was performed in 6 patients (16.7%) average 4.61 +/- 11.67 days after wounding. Reamputation was necessary in 6 cases (16.7%). Time period from the beginning of rehabilitation to the fitting of prosthesis, was 36.25 +/- 14.97 days for primary amputations, 32 +/- 17.8 days for secondary amputations and 68.66 +/- 33.52 days for reamputations. There was no significant correlation between the duration of rehabilitation to prosthetic management and the period between wounding and amputation (r = -0.102). The attempt to save the limb after severe below-knee injuries and the secondary amputation afterwards, did not significantly influence the ensuing rehabilitation and prosthetic works.
Zavod za rehabilitaciju, Dr Miroslav Zotovié, Banjaluka.
Slavica
S
Jandrić
Brano
B
Topić
D000328:Adult; D000671:Amputation, Surgical / Q000534:rehabilitation; D001753:Blast Injuries / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007869:Leg Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel; D012086:Reoperation; D014857:Warfare; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000601:surgery; D015022:Yugoslavia