Proximal amputation of inferior extremity secondary to recurrent pressure ulcers in patients with spinal cord injuries.
METHODS
Descriptive case series study.


OBJECTIVE
To describe the course of five spinal cord injury (SCI) patients who underwent proximal amputation of the inferior extremity, secondary to recurrent, complicated pressure ulcers (PU) and the clinical impact this intervention had in these patients.


METHODS
Trabajador Hospital in Santiago, Chile.


METHODS
Revision of five clinical cases of patients who underwent partial hemipelvectomy or hip disarticulation with amputation of the extremity as treatment for pelvic recurrent PU with chronic secondary osteomyelitis. The clinical impact was quantified as days of hospital stay, number of surgeries and previous and post surgery PU.


RESULTS
After the proximal amputation of the extremity, patients significantly decreased number of days of hospital stay (P=0.035), number of surgeries (P=0.015) and PU (P=0.0065).


CONCLUSIONS
Partial hemipelvectomy and hip disarticulation with proximal amputation of the inferior extremity are rescue procedures that can be last resource treatment for chronic recurrent pelvic PU secondary to chronic osteomyelitis.
Correa
G I
GI
Rehabilitation Service, Hospital del Trabajador Santiago, Providencia, Santiago, Chile. ghtgci@gw.achs.cl
Calderón
W O
WO
Burnier
L A
LA
Danilla
S E
SE
Roa
R G
RG
Guzmán
L M
LM
D000671:Amputation, Surgical; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006428:Hemipelvectomy; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000150:complications*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D016896:Treatment Outcome