Amputation

Amputation is a surgical procedure that involves the removal of a body extremity by trauma or surgery. It's often used as a last resort treatment option when a limb is severely damaged or diseased.

Index finger amputation

Introduction[edit | edit source]

Amputation is a major operation that has serious physical and psychological implications. However, it can be a life-saving procedure in cases where the limb is posing a threat to the patient's life, as with certain types of cancer or severe infection.^[1]

Reasons for Amputation[edit | edit source]

There are several reasons why an amputation might be necessary:
Peripheral artery disease
Cancer in the bone or muscle of the limb
Severe injury
Serious infection that does not get better with antibiotics or other treatment
Neuroma (nerve tumor)
Frostbite^[2]

Types of Amputation[edit | edit source]

Amputations can be classified by the part of the body that is removed:
Leg Amputations: Includes foot, below-knee, above-knee, and hip-level amputations.
Arm Amputations: Includes hand, below-elbow, above-elbow, and shoulder-level amputations.

Procedure[edit | edit source]

During an amputation, the surgeon removes the diseased limb and any damaged tissue. They will also try to preserve as much healthy skin, blood vessels, and nerves as possible to help speed recovery and optimize the function of the limb with a prosthesis.^[3]

Rehabilitation[edit | edit source]

After amputation, patients usually undergo physical and occupational therapy to regain strength, mobility, and independence. Psychological support is also essential as many patients may experience grief and depression after the loss of a limb.^[4]

Prosthetics[edit | edit source]

Prosthetic limbs can often provide a high level of function and quality of life for individuals after amputation. Prosthetic technology has advanced considerably, with modern prosthetics offering increased mobility, functionality, and lifelike appearance.^[5]

References[edit | edit source]

↑ Ziegler-Graham K, MacKenzie EJ, Ephraim PL, Travison TG, Brookmeyer R. Estimating the prevalence of limb loss in the United States: 2005 to 2050. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2008;89(3):422–429.
↑ Dillingham, T. R., Pezzin, L. E., & MacKenzie, E. J. (2002). Limb amputation and limb deficiency: epidemiology and recent trends in the United States. Southern medical journal, 95(8), 875-884.
↑ Borggreve, A. S., Mureau, M. A., & Hofer, S. O. P. (2013). Comparative long-term quality of life in patients undergoing free flap reconstruction for limb preservation. Journal of reconstructive microsurgery, 29(01), 53-61.
↑ Horgan, O., & MacLachlan, M. (2004). Psychosocial adjustment to lower-limb amputation: a review. Disability and rehabilitation, 26(14-15), 837-850.
↑ Ziegler-Graham, K., MacKenzie, E. J., Ephraim, P. L., Travison, T. G., & Brookmeyer, R. (2008). Estimating the prevalence of limb loss in the United States: 2005 to 2050. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 89(3), 422-429.

Amputation Resources
Latest articles Most recent articles Ongoing trials	Wikipedia

Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index‏‎ - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes

Search WikiMD

Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD

WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia

Let Food Be Thy Medicine
Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates

Translate this page: - East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, தமிழ், తెలుగు, Urdu, ಕನ್ನಡ, Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, বাংলা
European español, Deutsch, français, Greek, português do Brasil, polski, română, русский, Nederlands, norsk, svenska, suomi, Italian
Middle Eastern & African عربى, Turkish, Persian, Hebrew, Afrikaans, isiZulu, Kiswahili,
Other Bulgarian, Hungarian, Czech, Swedish, മലയാളം, मराठी, ਪੰਜਾਬੀ, ગુજરાતી, Portuguese, Ukrainian

Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.

[1] Ziegler-Graham K, MacKenzie EJ, Ephraim PL, Travison TG, Brookmeyer R. Estimating the prevalence of limb loss in the United States: 2005 to 2050. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2008;89(3):422–429.

[2] Dillingham, T. R., Pezzin, L. E., & MacKenzie, E. J. (2002). Limb amputation and limb deficiency: epidemiology and recent trends in the United States. Southern medical journal, 95(8), 875-884.

[3] Borggreve, A. S., Mureau, M. A., & Hofer, S. O. P. (2013). Comparative long-term quality of life in patients undergoing free flap reconstruction for limb preservation. Journal of reconstructive microsurgery, 29(01), 53-61.

[4] Horgan, O., & MacLachlan, M. (2004). Psychosocial adjustment to lower-limb amputation: a review. Disability and rehabilitation, 26(14-15), 837-850.

[5] Ziegler-Graham, K., MacKenzie, E. J., Ephraim, P. L., Travison, T. G., & Brookmeyer, R. (2008). Estimating the prevalence of limb loss in the United States: 2005 to 2050. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 89(3), 422-429.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]