RISK-FACTORS FOR FAILED HEALING IN AMPUTATION FOR VASCULAR-DISEASE - A PROSPECTIVE, CONSECUTIVE STUDY OF 177 CASES

We examined factors which may lower the mean amputation age and factor s which may serve as predictors of success or failure of amputations i n the lower extremities for vascular disease in 177 consecutive ampute es. Smoking lowered the mean amputation age by 9 years and diabetes by 3 years. Preoperative absence of gangrene in the ischemic limb predic ted a higher risk of failure compared to patients with gangrene. Also preoperative hemoglobin > 120 g/L gave a higher risk of failure. Failu re to heal was not correlated with age, sex, diabetes, level of amputa tion, previous vascular surgery, smoking, preoperative blood pressure, serum creatinine, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, blood glucose or te mperature.