Amputations des membres inférieurs au cours de l'évolution des artériopathies chroniques oblitérantes

Lower limb amputations related to progressive chronic occlusive arterial diseases have some specific patterns that differentiate them substantially from amputations due to traumas or tumours. Precise evaluation of the underlying arterial circulation, minimal surgical aggression, concern for the stump healing, nursing care, nutrition, diabetes and all risk factors control, are of up most importance in this disease; nevertheless, functional prognosis remains also an important concern. The goal is to determine the most adequate amputation level for preventing life-threatening infectious gangrene while preserving optimal functional status for walking, after a reinforcement and device fitting as rapid as possible.