Body weight adjustment for amputation
Estimates whole-body weight and adjusts ideal body weight for limb amputation.
Inputs
4 of 7SexUsed by the equation
Current weight
Right leg
Left leg
Right arm
Left arm
Patient values are shared with every calculator.
When to use
- Nutrition assessment or weight-based dosing in a patient with a limb amputation.
Pearls and pitfalls
- Proportions per limb segment: hand 0.7%, forearm 1.6%, upper arm 2.7%, foot 1.5%, lower leg 4.4%, thigh 10.1%.
- Use the estimated whole weight for BMI.
Why use
Avoids misclassifying BMI and mis-sizing doses after amputation.
Estimated whole weight = current weight ÷ (1 − fraction removed); adjusted IBW = IBW × (1 − fraction removed)