[Recovery after amputation for arteriosclerosis. Follow-up study]

Clinical follow-up of 71 patients subjected to major amputation of the lower extremities for atherosclerotic arteriopathy has been analysed for the purpose of ascertaining real possibilities of functional recovery and quality of life. Research results show that only a small number of patients (38%) can achieve an acceptable quality of life. The reasons have been identified in the objective difficulty of adequate physical and psychotherapeutic rehabilitation owing to structural shortcomings or the presence of associated pathology or the advance in the basic condition which does not permit application or frustrates results.