Proximal amputation of inferior extremity secondary to recurrent pressure ulcers in patients with spinal cord injuries.

STUDY

DESIGN

Descriptive case series study.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the course of five spinal cord injury (SCI) patients who underwent proximal amputation of the inferior extremity, secondary to recurrent, complicated pressure ulcers (PU) and the clinical impact this intervention had in these patients.

PLACE: Trabajador Hospital in Santiago, Chile.

METHOD: Revision of five clinical cases of patients who underwent partial hemipelvectomy or hip disarticulation with amputation of the extremity as treatment for pelvic recurrent PU with chronic secondary osteomyelitis. The clinical impact was quantified as days of hospital stay, number of surgeries and previous and post surgery PU.

RESULTS

After the proximal amputation of the extremity, patients significantly decreased number of days of hospital stay (P=0.035), number of surgeries (P=0.015) and PU (P=0.0065).

CONCLUSION

Partial hemipelvectomy and hip disarticulation with proximal amputation of the inferior extremity are rescue procedures that can be last resource treatment for chronic recurrent pelvic PU secondary to chronic osteomyelitis.