Lower extremity amputation for ischemia.

Three hundred-twenty-four amputations of the lower extremity for ischemia at the University of Oregon Health Sciences Center over the past ten years are presented. Striking differences between the first and second five-year periods are noted in level of amputation. The primary healing rate of all patients in the two periods was similar. Diabetics tended to have more distal amputations but primary healing was lower than that of nondiabetics.