Amputations: An Illustrated Manual

This is an important subject. As a treatment for limb-threatening ischemia of the lower extremity, amputation shares critical goals with arterial reconstruction: to allow the patient to stand and walk, to free the patient from relentless ischemic pain, and to provide an intact skin envelope. Although the operations share these important goals, the paradox exists that arterial reconstruction is usually performed by senior experienced surgeons, while amputation is often performed by much less experienced "juniors." The authors correctly stress that successful amputations share the same requirements as successful arterial reconstructions: meticulous technique, attention to detail, and a well thought out plan. Barns is a senior vascular surgeon of broad experience and nationally recognized skill. The goal of this book is to illustrate the details of technique and plan that have brought him clinical success.