Clinical Research Directory

Inclusion Criteria: * Patients requiring a unilateral transtibial amputation following major limb trauma regardless of when the injury occurred * The injury and its treatment must meet the following criteria: * The residual fibula is not fractured or if fractured, is stabilized by internal fixation allowing for either the Ertl or Burgess procedure * Proximal tibia/fibula joint is stabilized * Soft tissue coverage allows for atypical closure and skin graft \<100 cm2 * Amputation will result in a residual limb that is ≥10 cm from joint line to end of tibia * Ages 18 and 60 inclusive Exclusion Criteria: * At time of consent, patient has a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) motor score of 0-4 or a GCS motor score of 5 with a significant traumatic brain injury (defined as an AIS code of 5 or 6) * Patients with wound closure requiring a free tissue transfer * Fibula fractures proximal to the tibial bone cut that cannot be stabilized * Late amputation with presence of one of the following conditions: (i) infection within the zone of injury; (ii) chronic regional pain syndrome; (iii) post-traumatic thrombophlebitis * Patient has a spinal cord deficit * Patient has a previous leg or foot amputation or is non-ambulatory pre-injury * Patient has third degree burns on \>10% total surface area affecting the study limb * Patient has a documented psychiatric disorder * Patient is unable to speak either English or Spanish * Severe problems with maintaining follow-up (e.g. patients who are prisoners or homeless at the time of injury or who are intellectually challenged without adequate family support). * Patient has an amputation to one or both upper extremities (excluding digits) * Patient is outside hospital's catchment area * Patient follow-up is planned at another medical center