• C J Yowler, D W Mozingo, J B Ryan, and B A Pruitt.
• United States Army Institute of Surgical Research, Ft. Sam Houston, Texas, USA. CYowler@mhnet.mhmc.org
• J Trauma. 1998 Sep 1; 45 (3): 522526522-6.

BackgroundPrevious series of traumatic amputations have noted that delay in amputation results in prolonged hospital stay and delayed rehabilitation. A series of major extremity amputations after burn injury was analyzed to identify the frequency of delayed amputation and to identify factors resulting in the delay.MethodsChart review of burn admissions between January of 1991 and December of 1995.ResultsTwenty-eight patients underwent a total of 44 major extremity amputations. Thirty-five amputations in 22 patients were performed by postburn day 16 (mean 4.3). Nine amputations in six patients were delayed beyond postburn day 26 (mean, 48.3). Delayed amputations occurred in the subgroups of deep thermal burns with extensive necrosis and thermal burns complicated by infections. Early amputation was associated with a 13.6% mortality rate, delayed amputation with a 50% mortality rate.ConclusionThere is a bimodal distribution of time to amputation determined by mechanism of injury, severity of burn, and infectious complications. Earlier identification of nonsalvageable limbs may decrease infectious complications and improve the chances of patient survival.

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