A series of 320 patients with lower limb amputations was analyzed. Among patients admitted from home the risk of death in hospital, was 24 per cent (28/119) following AK amputation, as compared to 14 per cent (6/43) after TK amputation and 12 per cent (12/103) after BK amputation. Successful prosthetic fitting was achieved in 41 per cent (43/91) after AK amputation, 75 per cent (28/37) after TK amputation and 70 per cent (64/91) after BK amputation, including the 21 per cent (45/219) of patients discharged to a nursing home.