Selection of lower limb amputation level not aided by transcutaneous pO2 measurements

Abstract

The transcutaneous oxygen pressure measurements were evaluated as supplementary ones for predicting stump healing in 58 below-the-knee and 16 above-the-knee amputations; the lower level was selected if the skin perfusion pressure was greater than 30 mm Hg below the knee. The failure rates in below-the-knee and above-the-knee amputations were 17 and 25 percent, respectively, and unrelated to the transcutaneous oxygen pressure measured at the amputation level. We conclude that no further information is acquired by measuring transcutaneous oxygen pressure.