Long-term follow-up of Syme amputations for peripheral vascular disease associated with diabetes mellitus.

Ten patients underwent Syme amputation for diabetic peripheral vascular disease between 1980 and 1986 and were observed postoperatively for an average of 5 years. Surgical wounds healed in only five of the 10 patients; they were then fitted for a permanent Syme's prosthesis. All failures resulted from the inability to heal the surgical incisions primarily. The clinical records of these patients were retrospectively analyzed for predictors of successful clinical outcome. The ischemic index, grade of the lesion, initial wound treatment, and presence of the infection at the time of amputation were not found to be reliable predictors of a successful level of amputation. Clinical assessment of both the vascular and nutritional status of the patient was necessary to predict a successful result at this level of amputation.