[Knee exarticulation: technique for amputation of ischemic extremities].

A knee disarticulation or a trough-knee amputation stump is superior to an above-knee stump. Knee disarticulation does not require that bone be sectioned or muscle cut. The stump allows total end-load capacity. The muscle balance remains undisturbed. Due to the bulbous shape of the stump prosthetic fitting of modern appliances no longer presents problems. An operative technique especially developed for vascular patients is described in detail, including the postoperative treatment and the principles of prosthetic fitting.