Natural Course of the Amputee's Residual Limb as Followed by Sequential Ultrasound Examinations

Abstract

The authors studied 13 amputees (7 below knee, 6 above knee) with sequential ultrasound examinations at weeks 1, 2, 3, and 6 status post amputation to define the natural evolution of stump healing in below- and above-knee amputations. This would permit diagnosis of abnormal conditions such as abscess. In their series, they found striking differences between below- and above-knee amputations. In below-knee amputations the development of fluid collections was rare (2/6) and, when present, small (less than 3 cm) and transient (resolving within two to three weeks). In above-knee amputations, all stumps first developed subcutaneous edema followed by fluid collections (less than 5 cm) all of which resolved within six weeks. They found that ultrasound examinations are a useful technique to define abnormal fluid collections in the amputee's residual limb.