Lower limb trauma outcome measuresLimb salvage and amputation

The management of lower limb-threatening injuries is complex. Advances over the last few decades have provided the ability to salvage complex limb trauma but also have raised concerns that successful complex salvage surgery may not result in overall benefit for the patient. Surgical factors such as bony union, flap success, and a lack of complications are important but are not the sole factors upon which one can guide the patient toward their decision. The patient needs to know how the different treatments may affect their recovery, rehabilitation, return to work, and outcome. This chapter examines the indications and evidence for amputation and salvage by considering the importance of patient and injury-specific factors, biological and physiological variables, quality of life, patient satisfaction, and cost to the individual, hospital, and healthcare provider.