Wound dehiscence and stump infection after lower limb amputation: risk factors and association with antibiotic use

Optimal duration of antibiotic prophylaxis following major lower limb amputation in preventing adverse stump outcomes is controversial. We assess the epidemiology and risk factors of wound dehiscence and stump infection after mid-thigh to transmetatarsal amputations with regard to antibiotic administration. Our retrospective observational study at the Geneva University Hospital (January 1995-June 2010) includes a total of 289 amputations in 270 adult patients (199 males; median age 70 years). Wound dehiscence and/or stump infection occurred in 47 (16.3 %) and 63 (21.8 %) patients with a median delay of 24 and 14 days, respectively. No clinical variable was significantly associated with stump infection. Diabetes and older age (> 80 years) were associated with dehiscence. Importantly, transcutaneous tissue oxygen tension (TcPO2) and duration of antibiotic administration showed no association with either outcome. The duration of antibiotic administration before or after surgery does not change the epidemiology of stump complications.