LOWER EXTREMITY AMPUTATION

Course overview

APPROXIMATELY 150000 PATIENTS PER YEAR UNDERGO A LOWER EXTREMITY AMPUTATION IN THE UNITED STATES. THE MOST COMMON CAUSES LEADING TO AMPUTATION ARE DIABETES MELLITUS, PERIPHERAL VASCULAR DISEASE, NEUROPATHY, AND TRAUMA. THE LEVEL OF AMPUTATION WILL DEPEND ON THE VIABILITY OF THE SOFT TISSUES USED TO OBTAIN BONE COVERAGE. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE EVALUATION AND TREATMENT OF PATIENTS REQUIRING A LOWER-EXTREMITY AMPUTATION AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF AN INTERPROFESSIONAL APPROACH TOWARD CARING FOR THIS PATIENT POPULATION.