A novel technique for transtibial amputation in chronic occlusive arterial disease: Modified Burgess procedure

The aim of this study was to compare results of transtibial amputations performed using the Burgess or Modified Burgess techniques with those performed using the Bruckner technique. Transtibial amputation (TTA) was performed in 117 patients with Fontaine phase IV chronic arterial occlusion. Fifty-six patients with a mean age of 51.4 years were amputated by the Burgess technique between March 2000 and January 2003; and 61 patients with a mean age of 47.8 years were amputated by Modified Burgess technique between February 2003 and March 2006. In the Burgess technique, all muscles in the amputation region were preserved and the stump was closed by a long posterior flap; whereas the entire tibialis anterior muscle and part of the soleus muscle distal to the amputation level were removed in the modified Burgess procedure. Stump revision was performed in nine cases (17.3%) amputated by the Burgess technique due to necrosis at the incision site and drainage caused by the peroneal and tibialis anterior muscles; however, two cases (3.6%) of the modified Burgess procedure required stump revision. The prosthesis caused skin maceration at the lateral side of the stump in five cases (9.6%) operated with the Burgess technique and in eight cases (14.5%) operated with the modified Burgess procedure. After the rehabilitation period, 43 patients (82.6%) in the Burgess group were mobilized without crutches in an average of 162.5 days; on the other hand 51 patients (% 92.7) in the modified Burgess group were similarly mobilized in an average of 101.5 days. Our retrospective study showed that the modified Burgess technique, with its advantages and disadvantages forms an alternative to the Burgess and Bruckner techniques regarding TTAs.