Rotationplasty is an alternative surgical procedure for leg amputations. Here, a portion of the leg is removed and the ankle is rotated 180 degrees before being moved higher up on the limb so that it can be used as a joint for a prosthesis. The procedure is most commonly used for young patients who must have their lower limb amputated due to a bone cancer diagnosis, and although it may be shocking at first, for some, the procedure provides patients far more functionality than other amputation surgery options.

During a rotationplasty, the foot is positioned where the knee once was, with the heel pointing outwards and the toes facing inward. Once the joint is reconnected to the body, the patient can use the ankle joint as a makeshift knee joint for their new prosthetic limb.

According to Implants For Children, rotationplasty gives patients far better control over their prosthesis than traditional amputation. However, that does not mean the procedure is not without its limitations and risks. For example, it could be difficult to fit the prosthesis into the foot, or the procedure could result in far less range of motion than a traditional amputation procedure.

Due to advancements in prosthesis development, the procedure is now less commonly practiced than it once was, particularly in the United States, but it has not completely fallen out of fashion.

In addition, the procedure could cause psychological problems, seeing as it is visually unusual. For many though, the prospect of increased mobility outweighs the aesthetics of the limb, and once the patient learns to accept their new body, others will follow suit.