Loading of the contralateral foot in peripheral vascular insufficiency below-knee amputees.

Seven ambulatory peripheral vascular insufficiency below-the-knee amputees underwent gait analysis to determine the local pressures on seven prominent plantar regions in their remaining limb. Patients occupied significantly less stance phase time on their remaining limbs. Peak, mean, and total pressures measured at each of the seven prominent areas was decreased as compared with laboratory age and sex matched controls. The results of this study suggest that the risk of contralateral limb amputation surgery is related to systemic peripheral vascular insufficiency or local factors, and not increased loading of the remaining contralateral "limb-at-risk."