Use of Doppler pressure measurements in predicting success in amputation of the leg.

Fifty-five patients underwent amputation of the leg. Fifty-eight percent of the amputations were above-knee and 32 percent below-knee. Preoperative Doppler ankle blood pressure measurements and ankle/brachial ratios were compared and correlated with wound healing in patients with below-knee amputation. Statistical analysis documented that such measurements were significant in predicting wound healing. If blood pressure greater than 55 mm Hg at the knee, greater than 70 mm Hg at the incision site or greater than 70 mm Hg at the ankle or an ankle/brachial ratio of at least 0.3 is documented, satisfactory healing will follow amputation.