[Amputation in the growth period].

Amputations during childhood and juvenile age differ from those in adults: Osseous over-growth can be expected especially in trans-humeral and trans-tibial stumps,--to be prevented by stump-capping. After loss of a growth-plate transosseous stumps will reduce growth; therefore it is crucial to preserve the distal femoral growth-plate and a weight-bearing knee-disarticulation stump with respect to future prosthetic function and appearance. Besides predominantly traumatic origin of acquired amputations in the growth-period longitudinal deficiencies present at birth have to attract utmost attention when decision-making for surgical conversion--e.g. of a missing tibia to a knee-disarticulation stump or severe fibular deficiency to a weightbearing Symeor modified Pirogoff-/Boyd-stump. The multiple limb-deficient child and adolescent depends on a holistic approach towards therapy provided by specialised centers.