Below Knee Amputation

Removal of the lower leg below the knee and formation of a stump (after trauma or with underperfusion due to vascular disease)

Speciality Trauma, Vascular
Urgency elective, urgent, emergency
Duration 1 to 2 h
Blood Loss 250 ml to 1 litre
Anaesthesia General Anaesthetic +/- Nerve Block
Anaesthesia II Regional: Epidural, Regional: Spinal, Combined Spinal + Epidural, Epidural, Spinal, +/- Nerve Block, +/- Sedation
Nerve Blocks Femoral, Sciatic, +/- Nerve Catheter
Procedures Arterial line, Urinary catheter, +/- Tourniquet, +/- Transfusion
Pain moderate-severe (++++)
Post-op Pain Epidural Infusion 1-3 days, Nerve Block up to 10-30 hours, Nerve Catheter (a few days), Spinal up to 5-10 hours
Post-op Pain II Tablets, Suppositories, Injection (im, iv), PCA, +/- PCA
Hospital Stay 1 to 3 weeks
Full Recovery 8 to 12 weeks
Additional Info significant pain after operation / high risk of phantom pain, regular follow-ups of pain team required post-operatively, if nerve blocks fail then pain relief with PCA
More Information National Health Service

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