Muscle blood flow after amputation with special reference to the influence of the amputation level. Assessed by 133 xenon and histamine. An animal experiment.

Amputation on rabbits was found to change the muscle blood flow (MBF) in the limb subjected to surgery as well as in the contralateral extremity, depending on the technique used for amputation and the level at which it was carried out. Amputation was immediately followed by a reduction in MBF in the stump. After amputation of the crus and knee disarticulation, the flow was normalized a few days later and exceeded the preoperative mean flow. After amputation of the femur such an increase in flow was not seen, but when osseous plugging of the medullary cavity was applied, the MBF in the stump was intensified even after amputation of the femur.