BACKGROUND The treatment options available for extremity sarcomas are amputation or limb-sparing surgery with radiation, which may incur significant morbidity and body disfigurement. Hyperthermic isolated limb perfusion (HILP) may be an attractive option in extremity sarcomas for unresectable lesions to preserve limb function and maintain quality of life. METHODS We report the outcomes of 5 p...

HYPOTHESIS Population-based hospital data indicate that African American patients undergo major lower extremity (LE) amputation 2 to 3 times more frequently than white patients. Some have attributed this to a lack of access to LE revascularization procedures by African American patients. To determine the likelihood that racial disparities in amputation rates are related to treatment choice, thi...

BACKGROUND We sought to identify the age-adjusted incidence of lower-extremity amputation (LEA) in Mexican Americans, blacks, and non-Hispanic whites with diabetes in south Texas. METHODS We summarized medical records for hospitalizations for LEAs for 1993 in six metropolitan statistical areas in south Texas. RESULTS Age-adjusted incidence per 10,000 patients with diabetes was 146.59 in bla...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effectiveness of at-home infrared temperature monitoring as a preventative tool in individuals at high risk for diabetes-related lower-extremity ulceration and amputation. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Eighty-five patients who fit diabetic foot risk category 2 or 3 (neuropathy and foot deformity or previous history of ulceration or partial foot amputation) were randomi...

The prevalence of low back pain (LBP) is considerably higher in persons with lower-extremity amputation (52-71%) compared to the general population (6-33%) [1]. Alterations in gait and movement among persons with lower-extremity amputation have been associated with overall increases in trunk and pelvic motion [2]. Persons with unilateral transfemoral amputation (TFA), specifically, tend to walk...

BACKGROUND Severe lower extremity trauma as a devastating combat related injury is on the rise and this presents reconstructive surgeons with significant challenges to reach optimal cosmetic and functional outcomes. This study assessed early reconstructions of complex lower extremity battlefield soft tissue wounds. METHODS  This was a prospective case series study of battled field injur...

BACKGROUND To provide an overview of phantom limb pain (PLP) in China. This includes the prevalence of PLP and possible risk factors. METHODS In a retrospective study, telephone interviews were conducted with 391 amputation patients who underwent extremity amputations at a tertiary hospital in China. RESULTS PLP was found in 29% of the amputees. Pre-amputation pain (OR = 10.4, P = 0.002) an...

BACKGROUND Patients with diabetic foot ulcers are at a high risk of having both minor or major lower extremity amputations. AIM To identify the extent of risk factors for major and minor amputations in patients with diabetic foot ulcers. MATERIALS AND METHODS This prospective study was conducted from 2003 to 2005. Using the guidelines for wound classification developed by the International ...

A number of effective, low-cost strategies are available to identify and treat the person at risk for diabetic foot ulcers and lower-extremity amputation. These strategies must be more widely adopted by all diabetic care providers to maintain the integrity and function of the lower limb, and thus improve the quality of life for people with diabetes.