Skew flap myoplastic below-knee amputation: A preliminary report

A preliminary report is made of a modified technique of below-knee amputation using skewed sagittal skin flaps, combined with a posterior myoplasty. The satisfactory initial shape eliminates any delay for maturation of the stump and allows early casting of the socket for a prosthesis which can be worn within 3 weeks of operation for non-vascular amputations and within 4 weeks for vascular amputations. Forty-seven of these amputations have been performed; 4 patients required re-amputation at a higher level and 6 required secondary minor revision before full healing was achieved. In the remaining patients healing was uneventful.