POSTOPERATIVE CASTING OF BELOW-KNEE AMPUTATION REDUCES STUMP COMPLICATIONS.

Against the technological advances in limb salvage, below-the-knee amputation (BKA) remains a common procedure. Although most elective BKA is classified as clean operation, the reported stump complication rate is much higher than predicted. Postoperative casting (PC) may reduce the number of these complications. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of elastic bandage with knee immobilizer (EBKI) and PC in BKA stump complications. Retrospective cohort comparison design identified patients who underwent BKA between 2000-2023 for uncorrectable lower extremity ischemia, or excessive tissue loss secondary to non-correctable critical limb ischemia (CLI), excessive tissue loss secondary to CLI, infection, severe neuropathy, or the combination of these and stratified them into 2 cohorts based on their postoperative stump dressing: EBKI and PC. BKAs that were done for trauma or neoplastic process were excluded. The primary outcome measures: wound healing in 6 weeks and length of stay (LOS). stump injury, infection, dehiscence, necrosis, number of higher-level amputations, knee contracture and post BKA mobility with SIGAM score. 116 patients with 122 limbs (52 EBKI, 70 PC) were found who met inclusion criteria and analyzed. The groups were comparable in demographics and comorbidities and pre-operative variables, including mobility. The primary wound healing at 6 weeks was higher (p=0.007), wound dehiscence (p=0.01) and length of stay (p=0.006) was lower in the PC group compared to EBKI group. The PC group achieved higher SIGAM mobility score and lower number of contractures developed compared to the EBKI group. Applying and maintaining PC to the BKA stump during the first month of healing reduced the incidence of stump complications, shortened the LOS and improved post rehabilitation mobility results. We found no effect of PC on postoperative infections, stump necrosis and higher-level amputations.

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