Salvage of infected or failed below-knee amputations with total contact casting and continued weight bearing.

Ten patients with infected or apparently failing below-knee amputations were treated with total contact casting and continued weight bearing ambulation with a commercially available temporary prosthesis. Amputation was performed for peripheral vascular insufficiency in all patients. Seven of the patients were diabetic, five being insulin dependent. All ten were treated as outpatients and proceeded to heal their wounds and continued to function as independent community ambulators during treatment. None of the patients required surgical revision and each was successfully fit with a permanent below-knee prosthesis.