title: High-resolution ultrasound findings in the symptomatic residual limbs of amputees.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Amputations are increasingly prevalent because of medical complications associated with diabetes, meningitis, peripheral vascular disease, and neoplasms as well as road traffic accidents and war. The use of ultrasound (U/S) to diagnose the cause of pain in the residual limb of amputees is presented together with a review of the literature.
  
  
  METHODS
  133 civilian patients with one or more amputations were included in the study. They were seen over a 2-year period, at the Douglas Bader Unit, Queen Mary's Hospital, Roehampton, Surrey, United Kingdom, in an outpatient setting. Patients were scanned using a Philips ATL/HDI 5000 U/S scanner.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 89 male and 44 female patients, age range 14 to 91 years, with a total of 136 amputated sites. 80% of amputations involved the lower limb. Neuromas were the most frequently found lesions, followed by inflammatory edema, soft-tissue calcifications, bony spurs, soft-tissue infection, overuse injuries, bursae, and skin lesions. Scar tissue, bony erosion, bone infection, aneurysm formation, venous thrombosis, and myodesis failure were less frequently seen.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a wide spectrum of lesions in the amputated limb, which can be visualized by high-resolution U/S. Neuromas were the most frequent lesions seen.
authors.affiliation: Queen Mary's University Hospital, Roehampton, Surrey SW15 5PN, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Marian A R
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: O'Reilly
authors.forename: Peter M R
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: O'Reilly
authors.forename: Helena M R
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: O'Reilly
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.forename: Jerome
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sheahan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000671:Amputation, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000672:Amputation Stumps / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology*; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000295:instrumentation; D055815:Young Adult