The BKA medical abbreviation stands for below-knee amputation, a surgery that removes the lower leg while keeping the knee joint. Surgeons also call it a transtibial amputation, because the cut passes through the tibia, the larger bone of the shin.
You will see it in surgical notes, problem lists, rehab plans and discharge papers, usually with a side added in front: R BKA for the right leg or L BKA for the left. Because the knee stays, many people who have a BKA go on to walk with an artificial leg after healing and training. The sections below cover the written forms, the contrast with AKA, and the chart wording that usually surrounds it.
At a glance
Stands for
Below-knee amputationAlso called
Transtibial amputationWritten as
BKA, R BKA, L BKA, bilateral BKA, s/p BKASpecialty
Vascular surgery, orthopedics, trauma surgery, rehabilitationDo not confuse with
AKA, above-knee amputation, where the knee is removedWhere you see it
Operative notes, problem lists, therapy plans, prosthetic orders
What the BKA medical abbreviation describes
In a below-knee amputation, the surgeon removes the foot, ankle and part of the shin, then shapes the remaining bone and muscle into a rounded end. Clinicians call that end the residual limb, and older notes may call it the stump. The level is chosen so the limb heals well and still has enough length to fit a prosthesis.
Keeping the knee matters a great deal for daily life. Walking with a below-knee prosthesis usually takes less effort than walking with an above-knee one, because the person still bends the leg with their own knee. That is a big reason surgeons try to save the knee when blood flow and tissue health allow it.
Right and left BKA medical abbreviation forms in a note
The side almost always comes first. Charts may write it several ways, and all of these mean the same thing.
| As written | Meaning |
|---|---|
| R BKA, RBKA, right BKA | Below-knee amputation of the right leg |
| L BKA, LBKA, left BKA | Below-knee amputation of the left leg |
| B/L BKA, bilateral BKA | Both legs amputated below the knee |
| s/p L BKA | Status post, meaning the left BKA was done in the past |
History line in a clinic note: "68M, DM2, PAD, s/p R BKA, uses prosthesis." This reads as a 68 year old man with type 2 diabetes and peripheral artery disease who had his right leg amputated below the knee and now walks with an artificial leg.
Why a below-knee amputation is done
The most common reasons in adults are poor blood flow and infection, often together. Long-standing diabetes and PAD can lead to foot wounds that do not heal, tissue death called gangrene, or deep bone infection. When other treatments such as wound care, antibiotics or procedures to open blood vessels cannot save the foot, a BKA may be the safest option.
Other reasons include severe injuries from crashes or machinery, some bone or soft tissue tumors, and certain limb differences present from birth. The care team decides the level based on the person's blood supply, skin quality and goals for walking.
BKA versus AKA and other amputation levels
Amputation abbreviations follow a simple pattern: where the cut is made relative to a joint. The table puts BKA next to its neighbors.
| Abbreviation | Full term | Knee kept? |
|---|---|---|
| TMA | Transmetatarsal amputation, through the front of the foot | Yes |
| BKA | Below-knee amputation | Yes |
| Knee disarticulation | Removal through the knee joint itself | No |
| AKA | Above-knee amputation, through the thigh | No |
You may also see the matching upper limb terms, such as BEA for below-elbow amputation, built the same way.
Recovery words that follow a BKA in the chart
After surgery, notes shift to healing and mobility. Common phrases include incision check, shrinker sock to reduce swelling and shape the limb, and knee extension to prevent a tight knee. Therapy notes may track transfers, wheelchair use and gait training. Once the limb has healed and the swelling has settled, a prosthetist fits a socket and the person learns to walk with it.
People can also feel sensations in the missing part of the leg, called phantom limb sensation, and sometimes phantom pain. Both are common and are worth reporting to the care team, who can explain the options.
These are general descriptions of a common surgery. Questions about an amputation, its healing or a prosthesis are best answered by the surgeon, therapist and prosthetist who know the person.
Medical abbreviation BKA for students and coders
When charting, always pair BKA with a side, and keep it on the problem list as a past surgical history item once healed. Many teams write status post right below-knee amputation in full in the assessment to avoid any doubt about the side. Medical coding uses separate codes for left, right and both sides, so a missing side sends the record back for a query.
For more procedure shorthand from the operating room and the cath lab, the surgical abbreviations guide groups related terms together.
Frequently asked questions
What does R BKA mean in medical terms?
R BKA means right below-knee amputation. The right leg was removed below the knee, and the knee joint was kept. L BKA is the same surgery on the left leg.
Is a BKA the same as an AKA?
No. A BKA is done below the knee, so the knee stays, while an AKA is done through the thigh above the knee. The level changes how the prosthesis works and how much effort walking takes.
Can someone walk after a below-knee amputation?
Many people do walk again with a below-knee prosthesis after the limb heals and they complete therapy. How well and how soon depends on overall health, the other leg, and how the limb heals, so the rehab team gives the best estimate.
What is a transtibial amputation?
It is another name for a below-knee amputation. Transtibial means through the tibia, the main shin bone, which is where the surgeon makes the cut.
What does s/p BKA mean on a chart?
It means status post below-knee amputation, so the surgery happened at some point in the past. The note will usually add the side and sometimes how the person gets around now.