Primary closure of below-knee amputation stumps: a prospective study of sixty-two cases.

Between January 1, 1985, and December 31, 1988, we prospectively studied the outcome of 62 consecutive below-knee amputations with primary closure in 56 patients. There were 35 men and 21 women; mean age was 70 years. Above-knee amputation was performed for occlusion of the profunda femoris artery, acute thrombosis of a popliteal aneurysm with inadequate sural artery vascularity, intractable knee flexion contracture, suspended ischemia, and occasionally, when ischemia was found intraoperatively to extend proximally during below-knee amputation.

[A case of left ventricle-right atrium defect caused by nonpenetrating injury of the thorax].

A rare observation of left ventricular-right atrial defect is reported in a 17 year old boy, victim of a serious car accident. The elements of diagnosis and the congenital or traumatic origin of this defect were discussed. Surgical treatment with application of a patch enssured recovery.