Surgical Revision for Stump Problems After Traumatic Above-Ankle Amputations of the Lower

35 Background Stump problems(SPs)secondary to traumatic lower limb amputation had a crucial influence on 36 amputees’ ability to return to living and work. The purpose of this study was to investigate the surgical management 37 strategies of the SPs after above-ankle amputation of the lower limb secondary to trauma. 38 Method A cohort of clinical cases, who were troubled by SPs after above-ankle amputation following trauma, had 39 undergone revision surgery of the stump and was analyzed retrospectively. Various factors were noted like sex, 40 unilateral or bilateral, amputation type, and causes of trauma. Different SPs like excess soft tissue (where a 41 considerable amount of soft tissue interposed between the rigid elements which hindered the fitting of a prosthesis), 42 scar, ulcers, neuromas, and bone spurs were taken as dependent variables. The relationship between factors and SPs 43 was analyzed. 44 Results A total of 80 stumps were treated surgically. The frequency of excess soft tissue in above-knee amputation 45 cases was higher than that in below-knee amputation (p=0.007). Bone spur occurred more frequently in the unilateral 46 amputation than in bilateral ones (p=0.018). There was a significant difference in the ADL scores between admission 47 and discharge (p=0.000). 48 Conclusion Stump problems secondary to traumatic lower limb amputation had crucial influence on amputees’ ability 49 to return to living and work, appropriate evaluation and timely surgical revision showed excellent results. 50