AMPUTATION

PRESENTER; DR JOSEPH R MUHUGA

FACILITATOR:
 Definition…
• Amputation – surgical removal of a limb or part of the limb
through a bone or multiple bones

• Disarticulation – surgical removal of whole limb or part of the

limb through a joint.

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 History
• Most ancient surgical procedure. • Leg amputation without
• Historically were stimulated by the aftermath of
war.
anaesthetic, 1593
• Was a crude procedure, limb was rapidly severed
from unanaesthetise patient
• Open stump was then crushed or dipped into boiling
oil to obtain hemostasis
• Hippocrates was the first to use ligature
• Ambroise Pare (France military surgeon) introduced
artery forceps. He also designed prosthesis.

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 Incidence..
• Age – common in 50 – 70 years of age
• Traumatic common in young age
• Sex – approx.
• 75% male
• 25% female
• Limb – approx.
• 85% lower limbs
• 15% upper limbs
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 indications
• Common causes
• < 50 years – traumatic/ injury
• > 50 years – peripheral vascular diseases
• Less common
• Infection – fulminating gas gangrene
• Malignancy
• Nerve injury
• Congenital anomalies
• miscellaneous
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 Indications
• ‘DDD’
• Dead
• Dangerous
• Dam nuisance

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 Trauma

Traumatic amputation
• LL -20-30% of all amputations vs 77% for
upper limbs
• The leading cause of amputation in younger
age group
• Men > women
• The only absolute indication for primary
amputation is an irreparable vascular injury in
an ischaemic limb
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 To remove the limb subjectivity
• Predictive salvage index
• Limb injury score
• Mangled extremity syndrome index
• Attempts to salvage injured limb may lead to metabolic overload and secondary organ
failure.
• Injury severity score > 50; contraindication to limb salvage
• M.E.S.S (helfet, CORR, 80,1990) most useful
• < 7: salvage, 8 – 12 amputate
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 PVD
• 60 – 70% LL, vs 6% UL
• Arteriosclerosis vs thromboembolism
• +/- DM
• Most significant predictor of amputation in DM is peripheral neuropathy.
• Infection increase in
• Serum Albumin < 3.5gm/dl, WBC < 1500 cells/ml
• Prior stroke
• Decrease ABI
• Need vascular surgeon consultation
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 infection
• Gas gangrene
• Clostridial myonecrosis – within 24 hours, bronze discolouration, serosanguineous
exudates, musty, odor
• Immediate radical debridement, + iv penicillin or clindamycin
• Streptococcal myonecrosis – 3 to 4 days, anaerobic cellulitis or necrotizing fasciitis
• Acute and chronic infection that is unresponsive to antibiotics and surgical
debridement
• Open amputation is done.
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 Congenital limb deficiency
• < 3% of all LL vs 9% UL • Radial or tibial deficiencies are
• Occurs in 1/2000 births referred to as preaxial, and

• Failure of partial or complete • Ulnar and fibular deficiencies are

formation of portion of a limb referred to as postaxial.

• Congenital extremity deficiency

have been classified as
longitudinal, tranverse or
intercalary.
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 Tumours
• Account about 5% of all amputation of lower limbs and 8% upper limb
• Amputation is performed less frequently with the advent of advanced limb
salvage techniques.

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 Burns and frostbite
• Burns • Frostbite
• Delayed amputation – local infection • Occurs when one is trapped in
• Systemic infection extreme cold conditions for extended
period.
• Myoglobin induced renal failure
• Direct tissue injury – ice crystal in ECF
• death • Ischaemic injury – vascular endothelium
• Clot formation
• Increased sympathetic tone

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 Types of amputation
• Open
• Guillotine
• Modified guilloitine
• Closed
• Revised
• planned

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 pathophysiology
• The energy required for walking is inversely proportionate to the length of the
remaining limb.
• Amputation of the lower extremities is often the treatment of choice for an
unreconstructable or functional unsatisfactory limb
• The higher the level of lower limb amputation, the greater the energy
expenditure that is required for walking
• As the level of amputation moves proximally, the walking speed of individual
decreases, and the oxygen consumption increases.
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• In transtibial amputation, the energy cost for walking is not much greater
than that required for persons who have not undergone amputation.

• For those who have undergone femoral amputation, the energy required is
50 – 65% greater than that required for those who have not undergone
amputation.

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 Lab studies
• Hematocrit

• Creatinine levels should be monitored, in individuals with muscle injury

and necrosis, myoglobin enters systemic circulation and can lead to renal
insufficiency and failure. Especially in individuals with thermal and
electrical burns

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• Potasium and calcium levels should be monitored. Elevated levels of these
electrolytes may lead to cardiac arrhythmias and seizures.
• White blood cell count, c reactive protein and ESR. Expect the C-reactive
protein to be the first laboratory value to respond to treatment.
• platelets

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 Imaging studies
• X ray AP and lateral view
• CT scan and MRI are performed for the patients tumour workup or for
osteomyelitis to ensure that the surgical margins are appropriate.
• Technetium -99 (99mTc) pyrophosphate bone scanning has been used to
predict the need for amputation in persons with electrical burns and
frostbite
• A 94% sensitivity rate and a 100% specificity rate has been reported in
demarcating viable tissues from nonviable tissues
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• Doppler ultrasound –
• measure arterial pressure, in approx. 15% of patients with PVD, the results are
falsely elevated because of non compressability of the calcified extremities arteries.
• Doppler ultrasound has been used in the past to predict wound healing.
• A minimum measurement of 70mm hg is believed to be necessary for wound
healing

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• Ischaemic index
• This index is the ratio of doppler ultrasonographic pressure at the level being tested
to the brachial systolic pressure. An ischaemic index of 0.5 or greater at the surgical
level is necessary to support wound healing.
• Ankle brachial index
• The II at the ankle level is believed to be the best indicator for assessing adequate
inflow to the ischaemic limb. And index less than 0.45 indicates incisions distal to
the ankle will not heal

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 Preoperative preparations
• Appropriate preoperative antibiotics.
• A torniquate is placed on the limb prophylactically.
• Vascular and bone instruments are requested.
• Series of 45⁰ angled chisel are obtained for osteomyoplastic
reconstruction.
• An appropriate strength saw for cutting bone
• Vessel ligatures are obtained.
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• General principles for amputation surgery involve appropriate
management of skin, bone, nerves and vessels as follows.
• The greatest skin length possible should be maintained for muscle
coverage and a tension free closure.
• Muscle is placed over the cut end of bones via myodesis (i.e. muscle
sutured through drill holes in the bone), a long posterior flap sutured
anteriorly, or a well balance myoplasty (i.e. antagonistic muscle and fascia
groups sutures together).
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• Nerves are transected under tension, proximal to the cut end of bones in a scar and
tension free environment. Ligation of large nerves can be performed when the
associated vessel is present.
• Larger arteries and veins are dissected and separately ligated. This prevent the
development of arteriovenous fistula and aneurysm.
• Bony prominence around disarticulations are removed with a saw and filled smooth.
Diaphyseal transections can be covered with a local flexible osteoperiosteal graft.
Maintaining maximal extremity length possible is desirable. However BKA are best
performed 12.5 – 17.5 cm below the joint line for non ischaemic limbs.
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• One application guide is to make a limb 2.5cm long for every 30 cm of
body height for upper limb. For ischaemic limbs, a higher level of 10 –
12.5cm below the joint line is used because making limbs longer than this
can interfere with prosthetic use and design.

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 Standard principles in child
• Preserve the physis
• Amputation through the metaphysis (such as above knee or distal forearm
level) or diaphysis are not recommended in children because of
progressive relative shortening of the residual limb. This is most critical in
the femur, but is applicable to other bones as well.
• Disarticulate when possible. Disarticulation completely eliminates the
problem of terminal overgrowth and subsequent revision surgery.

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• Preserve stump shape. The pediatric amputation stump becomes conical
with growth, so preservation of bony architecture such as a short segment
of proximal fibula or the distal condyles of humerus will assist in
subsequent rotational control of prosthesis.
• The STSG can hypertrophy and become sufficiently strong to withstand
the shear forces of prosthesis use.

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 precautions
• Close attention to soft tissue technique
• Avoid unnecessary dissection between skin and subcutaneous, fascia and
muscle plane.
• In adult periosteum should not be stripped proximal to the level of
transection.
• In children 0.5cm removal of distal periosteum prevents terminal growth.

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 Goals of post operative management
• Prompt, uncomplicated wound healing
• Control of edema
• Control of post operative pain
• Prevention of joint contractures
• Rapid rehabilitation

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 Post operative;
• Rigid dressing – decreases edema, post operative pain and protects the
limb from trauma and early mobilization.
• Cast to be applied at the end of procedure, changed on the post operative
day 5 + IPOP (immediate post op prosthesis)
• Cast changed weekly

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• In post operative prosthesis
• Early training with an IPOP is believed to increase long term acceptance of
prosthesis
• New prosthesis around 18 months
• Regular check ups every 3 – 6 months for the next two years.
• Two weeks after surgery , muscle contraction exercises and progressive
desensitization of the residual extremity are initiated.
• Desensitization is started with a towel for distal residual extremity pressure, and
distal end bearing is started on a soft structure (usually bed).
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 Care of the stump
• Keep the stump clean, dry and free from infection all the time
• If fitted with prosthesis, you should remove it before going to sleep
• Inspect and wash the stump with mild soap and warm water every night,
then dry thoroughly and apply talcum powder.
• Do not use prosthesis until the skin has healed
• Stump sock should be changed daily and the inside of the socked may be
cleaned with mild soap.
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• Up to 2/3rd of amputees will manifest post operative psychtric symptoms
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Crying spells
• Insomnia
• Loss of appetite
• Suicidal ideation

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 Rehabilitation
• Residual limb shrinkage and shaping
• Limb desensitization
• Maintain joint range of motion
• Strengthen residual limb
• Maximize self reliance
• Patient education; future goals and prosthetic options

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 Complications
• Risk factors for complications include
• Blood clotting disorders
• DM
• Anaemia
• Certain medications e.g. steroids
• Infections
• obesity

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 Complications
• 1. hematoma – cause failure of wound to heal. Gap if wider than 1cm
needs revision.
• 2. infection – open – flaps retracts/edematous. Results in shortening of the
bone. Rx close only central 1/3rd for coverage of the bone.
• 3. phantom limb sensation – diminishes over time, telescoping

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• 4. pain and phantom pain
• Massage, cold packs, exercises and neuromascular stimulation.
• TENS – Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation. – incorporated in prosthesis
• Carbamazepine, phenytoin, gabapentin amitriptyline and Mexiletine
• Preoperative analgesia can prevent or even decrease the later incidence of phantom
pain

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• 5. Edema
• Mistakes – 1. too tight applied cast 2. soft spica cast – not applied n
transfemoral cast – proximal constriction
• Management – stump elevation
• 6. joint contracture
• 7. deep vein thrombosis

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 Some special types of amputation
• Dupuytren’s amputation – of the arm at shoulder joint
• Elliptic amputation – the cut has an elliptical outline
• Gritti-stokes amputation – of leg through knee, using oval anterior flap.
• Hey’s amputation – of foot btn tarsus and metatarsus.
• Interpelviabdominal amputation – of the thigh with excision of lateral half
of the pelvis

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• Interscapulothoracic amputation – of arm with excision of lateral portion
of shoulder girdle.
• Larrey’s amputation – amputation at the shoulder joint.
• Spontaneous amputation – loss of part without surgical intervention, as in
DM
• Sarmiento’s amputation – level is 1.3cm prox to ankle joint line.
• Teale’s amputation – amputation with short and long rectangular flaps
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 Syme’s amputation
• Disarticulation of foot with removal of both malleoli 0.6cm proximal to
joint line.
• Amputation provides an end bearing stump that in many circumstances
allow ambulation without prosthesis over short distances.
• It is an excellent amputation for children, in whom it preserves the physes
at the distal end of the tibia and fibula.

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 Boyd’s amputation
• Boyd procedure provides a broad
weight bearing surface of the heel by
creating an arthrodesis between the
distal tibia and the tuber of the
calcaneus after telectomy.
• Compared to a syme’s amputation, it
provides more length and better
perseves the weight bearing function
of the heel pad.
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 Chopart amputation

Amputation of the foot by midtarsal

disarticulation.

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 Lisfranc amputaion

Amputation of the foot between the

metatarsus and tarsus

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 Click icon to add picture

Pirogoff amputation
Amputation of the foot at the ankle, part of the calcaneus being
left in the stump.

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 Transcarpal amputation
• At this level, supination and pronation of forearm as well as flexion and extension of the
wrist possible.
• Ideally long full thickness palmar and shorter dorsal flap should be created in ratio of
2:1
• Finger flexor and extensor tendons should be drawn, devided and allowed to retract
deep into the proximal wound. Conversely wrist flexor and extensor tendons are
identified and released from the distal insertions and reflected proximally out of the way
• Wrist flexors and extensors should be anchored to the remaining carpus in line with their insertions
to preserve active wrist motion.

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 Wrist disarticulation;
• Providing a long level arm and preserved supination and pronation.
• A technique to minimize postoperative pain from neuroma formation, which
involves extending the incision proximally between the pronator teres and
brachioradialis just distal to the elbow. Flexion crease and doubly ligating the
median , ulnar and superficial radial nerves at this level.
• Preserving the triangular fibrocartilage, shortening of the radial styloid should
be avoided that improves prosthetic suspension.
• Procedure of choice in children
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 Forearm amputation

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 Krunkenberg procedure
• More than 80 years ago, krukenberg described a technique that converts a
forearm stump into a pincer that is motorized by the pronator teres
muscle. Indication for this procedure have been debated, however they
generally include bilateral upper extremity amputation, in those who are
also blind.
• Not recommended as a primary procedure at the time of an amputation.
• To consider this surgical option, the ulna and radius must extend distal to
the majority of the pronator teres (the motor for pinching) and an elbow
flexion
JOSEPH contracture of less than 70⁰.
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 prosthesis
• Is a replacement of /substitution of a missing or diseased part.

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 classification
• Endoprosthesis
• Implants used in orthopaedic surgery e.g. Austin moore prosthesis
• Exoprosthesis
• External replacement for the lost part of the limb

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 Types
• Temporary
• Used following amputation until the
patient is fitted with permanent
prosthesis e.g. pylon
• permanent

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 Prosthesis for lower limb
• For disarticulation of a hip and hemipelvectomy
• For transfemoral amputation
• Suction socketed
• Has two way valve mechanism
• Creates negative pressure – snuggly fits
• Useful in young patients
• Best for cylindrical stumps

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• Non suction socketed
• Pelvic bands in place of negative pressure to hold

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 comparison

Suction socketed Non suction socketed

• Less skin infection • More incidence of skin infection
• Feel of close contact with prosthesis • Not so
• Socks are not necessary • Socks are necessary
• Not easy to wear • Easy to wear
• Less confortabel • More confortable
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 Prosthesis for BKA
• Socket fits exactly over the patellar tendon and tibial condyles

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 Conventional type prosthesis
• Consist of
• Thigh corset
• Side steel
• Knee joint
• Shin piece
• Ankle joint
• Foot piece

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 Prosthesis for syme’s amputation
• Have a close sockets or open sockets
• Full weight bearing or modified end bearing

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 SACH (SOLID ACTION CUSHION HEEL)
FOOT
• Whole foot is of various layers of rubber with varying density
• No ankle joint
• Above action is achieved by compression of wedge shaped rubber heel
• All placed on wooden insert for heel and wooden side keel

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 Jaipur foot (india’s pride)
• Made of rubber (waterproof) and aluminium (for leg piece)
• Cheap, strong, rust free
• Allows sitting, squatting, does not require a shoe.

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 Prosthesis for upper limb amputation
• Forequarter amputation
• Prosthesis merely serves a cosmetic
purpose
• Sleeve fitter prosthesis with a
plastozoate cap padded inside with
foam and retaining straps is used.

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 Shoulder disarticualtion
• Shoulder piece extended cap to hold prosthesis
• Elbow piece can be flexed by pulling on the flexion cord with the
protractors of the shoulder
• Handpiece either cosmetic or splint hook type

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 Above elbow amputation
• Same as prosthesis for shoulder disarticulation except elbow flexion is
stronger due to action of arm muscles along the protractors

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 Below elbow amputation
• There is a cop socket attached to terminal device
• Terminal device can be activated through a loop harness

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 For wrist disarticulation
• Split socket forearm and a wrist rotation device is provided
• A device can be provided to lock for supination and pronation.

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