Arrange for a ride home.
Arrange for help at home while you recover.
Ask your doctor about devices you will need after the surgery, such as an artificial limb, walker , crutches, and/or wheelchair.

Talk to your doctor about any medications, herbs, or supplements you are taking. You may need to stop taking some medications up to 1 week before the procedure.

Do not eat or drink anything after midnight the day before your surgery, unless told otherwise by your doctor.

Anesthesia

You may be given either:

General anesthesia —you will be asleep through the surgery
Spinal anesthesia —you will be numbed from the waist down
Regional anesthesia —used to block pain in the lower legs, but you will not be asleep

Description of Procedure

A cut will be made in the skin below the knee. The muscles will be separated and blood vessels clamped. A special saw will be used to cut through the bone. The muscles will be sewn and shaped so that a stump is formed to cushion the bone. Nerves will be separated and placed so that they do not cause pain. Blood vessels will be tied off. The skin will be closed over the muscles, forming the stump. Drains may be inserted into the stump to drain blood for the first few days. A dressing and compression stocking will be placed over the stump.

Below-the-Knee Amputation

A cut is made below the knee.

How Long Will It Take?

Several hours, depending on your health and the reason for the surgery

How Much Will It Hurt?

Anesthesia will prevent pain during surgery. Pain and discomfort after the procedure can be managed with medications.

Average Hospital Stay

The usual length of stay is 5-14 days. It is possible that you may have to stay longer if complications arise. You may also go to a rehabilitation hospital to help you recover.

Post-procedure Care

At the Hospital

Right after the procedure, you will be in a recovery room where your blood pressure, pulse, and breathing will be monitored. Recovery may also include:

Pain medications
Antibiotics to prevent infection
Medication to prevent blood clots

Physical therapy often starts within 24 hours after your surgery. During this time you may need devices to help you walk.

Preventing Infection

During your stay, the hospital staff will take steps to reduce your chance of infection, such as:

Washing their hands
Wearing gloves or masks
Keeping your incisions covered

There are also steps you can take to reduce your chance of infection, such as:

Washing your hands often and reminding your healthcare providers to do the same
Reminding your healthcare providers to wear gloves or masks
Not allowing others to touch your incision

At Home

When you return home, you will continue with physical therapy and exercise. You will be instructed on how to care for the residual limb. Medications may be prescribed to manage pain.

Adjusting to an amputation may be difficult and can lead to depression. Consider talking to a therapist or psychologist.

Call Your Doctor

Contact your doctor if your recovery is not progressing as expected or you develop complications, such as:

Increased swelling in the residual limb
Poorly fitting prosthesis
Pain that cannot be controlled with the medication you were given
Signs of infection, such as fever or chills
Increasing redness, swelling, increasing pain, excess bleeding, or discharge from the incision site
Persistent nausea or vomiting
Increased symptoms of depression
New or persistent cough, shortness of breath, or chest pain
Joint pain, fatigue, stiffness, rash, or other new symptoms

If you think you have an emergency, call for emergency medical services right away.

RESOURCES:

American Diabetes Association
http://www.diabetes.org

Amputee Coalition of America
http://www.amputee-coalition.org

CANADIAN RESOURCES:

Canadian Diabetes Association
http://www.diabetes.ca

Health Canada
https://www.canada.ca

References:

Amputation. John Hopkins Medicine website. Available at:
...(Click grey area to select URL)
Accessed November 10, 2017.

Amputation. Society for Vascular Surgery website. Available at: https://vascular.org/patient-resources/vascular-treatments/amputation. Accessed November 10, 2017.

Amputation procedure. Johns Hopkins Medicine website. Available at:
...(Click grey area to select URL)
Accessed November 10, 2017.

Management of acute and critical limb ischemia. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at: http://www.dynamed... . Updated September 8, 2017. Accessed November 10, 2017.

Last reviewed November 2018 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Warren A. Bodine, DO, CAQSM
Last Updated: 12/20/2014

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