[Amputation of the leg in arterial occlusive disease]

The until recently held opinion that above-knee amputations were the method of choice for treating stage IV chronic occlusive arterial disease, is outdated. Determining the appropriate level for amputation in patients with peripheral arterial obstruction is difficult, and requires much experience. Successful fitting of a prosthetic device and subsequent rehabilitation depend not only on the patient's bodily and emotional reserves, but also on the operative technique employed. The more distal the amputation, the better is the prognosis for satisfactory prosthetic function and social reintegration. A total of 280 amputations on 268 patients was performed over a 48-month period. In 181 patients (68%) primary healing occurred without complications. Total mortality was 10%, occurring mainly in the group of above-knee amputees. The majority of local wound complications was found in transmetatarsal resections and below-knee amputations. A total of 42 patients (15%) underwent re-amputation. Only half of the above-knee amputees could be fitted with a prosthesis and rehabilitated, whereas nearly all patients amputated more distally experienced satisfactory outcomes in this respect.