Major stump trauma following below-knee amputation. Outcome and recommendations for therapy. 1991

T A Behar, and S J Burnham, and G Johnson
Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

Injury to the stump of a below-knee amputation (BKA) may require revision to a higher level of amputation. We undertook a retrospective review of BKAs performed during a 14-year period. Twenty-three patients suffered trauma to their stumps. Most (80%) trauma resulted from a fall. The severity of the trauma was graded on a three-part scale. Operative reclosure was attempted in 8 cases with 2 successes. Closure by secondary intent was successful in 7 of the 12 attempts. A total of 11 patients had revision to above-knee amputation (AKA) as the final outcome. The severity of trauma correlated inversely with the likelihood of eventual stump salvage. We conclude that primary reclosure or closure by secondary intent should be considered, since in 53% of attempts this results in knee preservation. Analysis of noninvasive vascular testing prior to the BKA was not helpful in predicting successful salvage of traumatized stumps.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007717 Knee A region of the lower extremity immediately surrounding and including the KNEE JOINT.
D008297 Male Males
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D012086 Reoperation A repeat operation for the same condition in the same patient due to disease progression or recurrence, or as followup to failed previous surgery. Revision, Joint,Revision, Surgical,Surgery, Repeat,Surgical Revision,Repeat Surgery,Revision Surgery,Joint Revision,Revision Surgeries,Surgery, Revision
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000058 Accidental Falls Falls due to slipping or tripping which may result in injury. Falls, Accidental,Falling,Falls,Slip and Fall,Accidental Fall,Fall and Slip,Fall, Accidental
D000672 Amputation Stumps The part of a limb or tail following AMPUTATION, SURGICAL that is proximal to the amputated section. Amputation Stump,Stump, Amputation,Stumps, Amputation
D012189 Retrospective Studies Studies used to test etiologic hypotheses in which inferences about an exposure to putative causal factors are derived from data relating to characteristics of persons under study or to events or experiences in their past. The essential feature is that some of the persons under study have the disease or outcome of interest and their characteristics are compared with those of unaffected persons. Retrospective Study,Studies, Retrospective,Study, Retrospective
D013529 Surgical Wound Dehiscence Pathologic process consisting of a partial or complete disruption of the layers of a surgical wound. Dehiscence, Surgical Wound,Wound Dehiscence, Surgical

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