Transcutaneous oxygen pressure. An effective measure for prosthesis fitting on below-knee amputations.

After amputation for arterial occlusive disease of the lower limbs, healing and local adaptation to a prosthesis depend on the oxygen ratio in the tissue. Transcutaneous oxygen tension (TcPO2) is a noninvasive microcirculatory exploration. Forty six below-knee stumps were selected without any prosthetic problem excepting vascular, with a follow-up mean duration of 23 months. They were classified into different prosthetic categories. The first was the worst because it required further amputation on the thigh and the fourth the best, which displayed complete adaptation to a socket contact. These groups were related to their TcPO2 values on the anterior and exterior face of the stumps in both reclined and seated positions. It seems that it is impossible to achieve healing when the TcPO2 value is lower than 15 mm Hg in lying position. However, healing is possible above 20 mm Hg but socket contact is not possible when TcPO2 values are under 40 mm Hg. When TcPO2 values are above 40 mm Hg, a good prosthesis fitting is possible when no problems are encountered other than vascular ones.