Question:

What is the level of amputation shown here?

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The knee joint is still present and the cut is through the leg bones — name the trans-tibial level.
Updated On: Jun 22, 2026
  • Below Knee Amputation
  • Above Knee Amputation
  • Syme's amputation
  • Hip disarticulation
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The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Read the clinical photograph. The image shows a residual limb (stump) being dressed/bandaged in which the knee joint is preserved and the amputation has been performed through the leg (tibia and fibula) below the knee. The stump ends in the upper-to-mid leg region with the knee intact above it.

Step 2: Classify the amputation. When the section passes through the tibia/fibula and the knee is retained, the procedure is a Below Knee Amputation (BKA), also called a trans-tibial amputation. The ideal trans-tibial level is about 12-15 cm distal to the knee joint line, which preserves enough length for prosthetic fitting while keeping a viable myocutaneous (posterior flap) cover.

Step 3: Why this level matters / why other levels are not shown. A BKA is functionally superior to an above-knee amputation because retaining the knee joint dramatically reduces the energy cost of walking with a prosthesis. An Above Knee (trans-femoral) amputation would section the femur and the knee would be absent - not the case here. A Syme's amputation is performed at the ankle (the stump would be at the ankle level), and a hip disarticulation removes the entire lower limb at the hip - neither matches the picture.

Final answer: Below Knee Amputation.
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