Early post-surgical prosthetic limb fitting in dysvascular below-knee amputees with a pre-fabricated temporary limb

Two consecutive series of patients undergoing below-knee amputation for peripheral vascular insufficiency were compared relative to the length of acute-care hospitalization and rehabilitation. The residual limb control group was treated with soft-surgical dressings and non-weight bearing ambulation with referral to the amputee clinic when the residual limb wound was "ready." The residual limb experimental group was treated with rigid plaster (cast) dressings with early post-surgical prosthetic limb fitting and progressive weight bearing ambulation. Acute-care hospitalization following amputation surgery averaged 27.7 days in the control group, and 23.7 days in the treated group. Patients were either re-admitted or transferred to a rehabilitation unit where hospitalization averaged 42.9 days in the control group and 14.1 days in the treated group. This resulted in a cost savings of almost $15,000 per patient based on present hospital fees. The results of this study suggest that early post-surgical prosthetic limb fitting not only hastens recovery amputation, but can be safe and cost effective.