Above vs. below knee amputations: a retrospective analysis

A review of 99 case histories (57 males and 42 females) involving 117 amputations of the lower limb during a four-year period is presented. Fifty-eight below-the-knee amputations were performed: five were revised to the above-the-knee (AK) level. There were 54 primary AK amputations. Complications associated with peripheral vascular disease constituted the main reason for performing surgery. The overall mortality rate was 20.2%: sepsis was the main cause of death.