Long posterior-flap myoplastic below-knee amputation (Burgess operation) in peripheral vascular disease

Abstract

Two problems face the surgeon when he decides to amputate. He must try to obtain primary healing of the skin flaps and he must give the patient a strong, mobile and useful stump. These two aims are in part in opposition to each other. The higher up the limb the surgeon amputates the better the chance of primary healing, but with this goes a higher mortality rate and a lower chance of rehabilitation for the patient. Amputations lower down the limb give a stronger stump, and a greater chance of a return to walking but the healing rate is slower. Within this study, fifteen below-knee amputations in fifteen patients were studied. Furthermore, the advantages in relation to long posterior-flap below-knee amputation with myoplasty are described.