The association between lowest palpable pulse and wound healing in below knee amputations.

A retrospective study of 191 patients undergoing 203 Burgess type below knee amputations for end-stage peripheral vascular disease showed that the only clinical feature which associated significantly with wound healing was the lowest palpable pulse. The pulse level was noted preoperatively and was compared with the healing rates in the amputation stumps. When the femoral pulse was absent, 79% of below knee amputations failed. When the femoral pulse was palpable, only 29% wound breakdown occurred. When the popliteal or more distal pulses were palpable, only 10% failure was recorded.