BKA
Medical abbreviation · Rehabilitation
| Stands for | Below-knee amputation |
|---|---|
| Categories | Medical |
BKA stands for Below-knee amputation, a rehabilitation abbreviation.
Surgical removal of the leg below the knee, also called transtibial amputation, most often because of diabetes and peripheral arterial disease. Preserving the knee greatly improves walking with a prosthesis.
Example: R BKA POD 10: residual limb shaping with shrinker, prosthetic referral.
Usage notes
Energy cost of walking is much lower with a below-knee than an above-knee amputation. Rehabilitation includes limb shaping, contracture prevention and prosthetic training. Patients are told not to rest the residual limb over a pillow, which can cause a knee flexion contracture.
Related abbreviations
More rehabilitation abbreviations
- ADL – Activities of daily living
- AFO – Ankle-foot orthosis
- AKA – Above-knee amputation
- AM-PAC – Activity Measure for Post-Acute Care
- AROM – Active range of motion
- BBS – Berg Balance Scale
- BWSTT – Body-weight-supported treadmill training
- CGA – Contact guard assist
- CIMT – Constraint-induced movement therapy
- CKC – Closed kinetic chain
- COPM – Canadian Occupational Performance Measure
- CPM – Continuous passive motion
See all 98 rehabilitation abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.