Below knee amputation of the elderly patient.

Filmed at the Limb Surgery Unit, Queen Mary's Hosptial, Roehampton, London, this film shows all aspects of the amputation of the lower leg of a 76-year-old man with ischemic disease. Beginning with the examination of the patient we go on to see a meeting to discuss the man's treatment which includes input from the surgeon, a physiotherapist, a social worker, an occupational therapist, the limb-fitting surgeon and the prosthesis maker. We see the preparation of his leg for surgery and detailed surgical footage of the amputation itself with narration. Follow-up procedures include a visit to the man's home by the social worker, physiotherapy sessions within the hospital, the fitting of the prosthetic limb and learning to walk. Finally we see the man return home.