Amputation for vascular disease. Prognostic factors for healing, long-term outcome and costs.
General characteristics and outcome was evaluated in 177 consecutive patients who underwent a major amputation in a defined population. Smoking and diabetes lowered the mean amputation age. Healing failure at six months was seen in 24% of transtibial and in 11% of transfemoral amputees. Preoperative absence of gangrene and hemoglobin >120 g/L increased the risk of healing failure. Six months after