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Gritti-Stokes (through-knee) amputation: should it be reintroduced?
1Department of Surgery, York Hospital, York, PA 17405, USA.
Background:
When there is doubt about perfusion in the distal part of the leg and around the ankle, an above-knee amputation (AKA) site has been the most commonly selected to assure primary wound healing.
Methods:
The Gritti-Stokes amputation (GSA), a modified through-knee amputation, seems to have value for selected patients, according to a literature review and our success in a small group of patients. We have investigated the proportion of patients who have had AKA and who might have been suitable candidates for GSA.
Results:
In a retrospective study of 66 patients who had had AKA, at least one third could have been considered for a GSA and might have benefitted from this procedure. This suggests that some consideration should be given to the reintroduction of the Gritti-Stokes operation.
Conclusion:
Our expectation is that patients so treated could achieve a high proportion of primary wound healing, an end-bearing stump, and more rapid rehabilitation than found in patients undergoing the classic AKA.
