title: Thermography in the determination of amputation levels in ischaemic limbs.
abstract: The reliability of thermography for the determination of the level of amputation for an ischaemic lower limb was compared with that of the doppler flowmeter and the clinical judgement of an experienced surgeon. The results showed that thermography tended to overestimate the degree of ischaemia and to indicate a higher level of amputation than was necessary. The advantages and the limitations of each method are discussed. It is concluded that the clinical judgement of the surgeon was the most reliable method and that the other investigations are only an adjunct to clinical assessment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: K D K
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Luk
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Yeung
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: J C Y
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Leong
keywords: Amputation; Ischaemic limbs; Thermography