There are many different reasons for amputating a leg. These include vascular diseases, trauma, malignant tumours, infections, congenital deformities and accidents.
By far the largest proportion (80 per cent) is, however, attributable to arterial circulation disorders: these include arterial occlusive disease (AOD) and chronic venous insufficiency, as well as other chronic inflammatory vascular diseases.
Accompanying diseases such as diabetes mellitus and high blood pressure, and factors such as smoking, excess weight and last - but not least – age, also play a role.