Limb-salvage surgery in trauma leg injuries. Does it offer patients better quality of life and functional capacity than amputation?

Background: The decision to salvage or amputate the injured limb has generated much controversy in the Literature, with studies to support advantages of each approach. All scoring systems have proved unreliable in predicting the need for amputation or salvage. ‘Making decision' and 'timing' can be difficult even for experts. Limb-salvage surgery in trauma leg injuries. Does it offer patients better quality of life and functional capacity than amputation? www.preventionandresearch.com 8 Jan-Mar 2013|P&R Scientific|Volume 3|N°1 Objectives: Obviously, it is to avoid amputation of a limb which could be saved, as well as not always trying the revascularization. This is the challenging problem. In our opinion, the issue is not to perform revascularization just because it is technically feasible, but when it should be performed. The purpose of this study is clarify some decisions about management of severely injured legs.