LOWER-LIMB AMPUTATION FOR VASCULAR-DISEASE IN THE GRAMPIAN AREA - THEOUTCOME OF REHABILITATION

The outcome of lower limb amputation in the Grampian Region has been s tudied. In the years 1990-1991, 93 patients had 104 amputations for va scular disease. Rehabilitation was supervised by a multidisciplinary t eam. The amputation level was: unilateral and below-knee (BKA), 55 pat ients; unilateral and above-knee (AKA), 27 patients; and bilateral (BA ) in 11 patients. At a median followup of 27 months, survivors who had had a limb fitted were sent a questionnaire to assess their physical mobility. The response rate was 95%. There were 33 (60%) survivors in the BKA group. Fourteen patients (25%) indicated good mobility and sev en (13%) indicated fair mobility. There were five (19%) survivors in t he AKA group, only one of whom described fair mobility with a prosthet ic limb. There were 5 (46%) survivors of BA. Two described good and on e fair mobility. Although vascular amputees have a high mortality rate , physical mobility tends to be good in those fitted with a prosthesis after BKA.