The decision to attempt limb salvage vs to amputate in a significant traumatic limb injury is based on patient´s best predicted outcome. When amputation cannot be avoided the aim is to provide a pain free limb whilst preserving the soft tissue and limb length. Retrospective study covering 5 years (2011–2016), all the trauma patients requiring lower limb amputation (LLA) included. Demographics, mechanism, type of injury, amputation type, cause and level, theatre trips for stump management were analysed.Background
Methods
Between 1993 and 2001, 61 patients underwent surgery for Crowe III or Eftekhar grade C hips (n=45) and Crowe IV or Eftekhar grade D hips (n=16). Mean patient age was 42 years. Prostheses inserted via the trans-trochanteric approach with femoral shortening osteotomy and cementing developed complications related to the trochanteroplasty: nonunion of the greater trochanter (n=6), functional impairment (n=2), infection after bursitis on suture and secondary necrosis (n=1). Because of these complications we adopted the triple femoral osteotomy technique for shortening, derotation and press-fit femoral implants. Between 2001 and 2005, eight Eftekhar D hips were treated with this technique. Locked non-cemented femoral prostheses were inserted. Pre- and postoperative clinical assessment was based on the Postel-Merle-d’Aubigné score. For the cup, the technique remained unchanged, with cemented implants. The lengthening obtaine varied from 3.5 to 5.5 cm with no cases of sciatic palsy. There has been no case of prosthesis dislocation.