[Preoperative determination of optimal amputation level in end-stage arterial occlusive disease]

For the preoperative determination of the amputation site in occlusive arterial disease of the lower extremity (i.e. healing by first intention in spite of a peripheral amputation level below the knee or at the knee) we developed a score by analyzing 500 patients with 523 amputations retrospectively. By means of a prospective study (100 consecutive lower limb amputations) this score has proved to be a helpful tool for realizing our therapeutic principle.