Lower-Limb Preservation Strategy

Lower-limb amputation is a serious complication of non-healing wounds as a result of vascular disease and/or diabetes. Vascular disease and diabetes account for a significant number of non-traumatic lower-limb amputations in Ontario, of which up to 85% are estimated to be preventable. Successful implementation of organized lower-limb preservation efforts has shown tremendous reduction in amputation rates, saving millions in health care dollars, and most critically, providing appropriate limb-saving care to patients and communities.

CorHealth has developed a Lower-Limb Preservation Strategy (LLPS) with the following high-level goals:

1. To reduce avoidable, non-traumatic major lower-limb amputations in Ontario
2. To improve equitable access to high-quality best-practice early screening, cardiovascular risk factor modification and integrated lower-limb wound care

Guiding the development of this work is an Advisory Committee, chaired by Dr. Ahmed Kayssi (Vascular Surgeon, University of Toronto), made up of interprofessional lower-limb preservation experts and patient and family advisors with lived experience from across the province.

The outcomes of this work include:

1. Ontario Framework for Lower-Limb Preservation
2. Care Pathways
3. Change Package (working document)
4. Patient Toolkit (working document)

Please feel welcome to reach out to the CorHealth Ontario Service Desk at oh-corh_service@ontariohealth.ca for more information.