Table of contents:
- 1. Who is at risk of having to undergo amputation?
- 2. When will the doctor decide to amputate?
- 3. What are the complications that can occur after amputation?
- 4. How is the amputation performed?
- 5. Will the amputation improve my health problems?
There are more than one million cases of amputation, or loss of a limb, each year worldwide. This means that one person loses a limb every 30 seconds. Amputation is the loss of all or part of an arm or leg. Some of the common causes of limb loss through amputation include:
- Uncontrolled health conditions, such as diabetes and atherosclerosis, which cause serious problems with blood circulation.
- Serious trauma or injury to the limb caused by traffic accidents or military combat.
- Cancer is found in the limbs and poses a significant health threat.
- Birth defects in the limbs or pain that doesn't go away.
1. Who is at risk of having to undergo amputation?
You are more at risk if you have problems with blood circulation. The most common health condition causing this is diabetes. This is because diabetes can lead to nerve damage and poor wound healing. When your blood sugar level is high, your blood becomes thicker, causing poor circulation to your hands and feet. Early detection and better control of sugar can help avoid amputation.
Atherosclerosis, a disease that causes hardening of the arteries, can also cause poor circulation. This is due to high levels of fat in the blood. Poor circulation prevents the delivery of essential nutrients to your limbs, which impairs limb function. It can also interfere with the healing process when your limb is infected.
2. When will the doctor decide to amputate?
Your doctor may suggest amputation of a limb when there is no blood supply, or when the tissue is permanently damaged. Blood supply is essential for tissues to stay healthy and for healing. Surgeons generally cut over the sore or injured area so that some of the healthy tissue can still protect the bone.
Sometimes the location of the amputation depends on where the artificial limb, or prosthesis, will be placed. A surgeon performing the amputation will determine the extent to which the amputation is required. A minor amputation can be performed if the tissue remains healthy and has a good blood supply. Poor blood supply or severely damaged tissue in a limb may require a large amputation involving most, or all of the limb.
3. What are the complications that can occur after amputation?
An important complication, associated with amputation or loss of a limb, is the risk of death.
Other complications include:
- Infection
- Angina (chest pain)
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Mental pressure
- Wound infection
- Deep vein thrombosis (blood clot)
Complications can also include a condition known as phantom pain. This occurs when you are still experiencing sensations such as feeling an amputated limb, or pain in a limb that has actually been amputated. The intensity of phantom pain varies from person to person. But, in most cases, this condition tends to disappear over time.
4. How is the amputation performed?
There are different types of amputation, depending on the specific limb that needs to be amputated and how many of the limbs can be saved.
Lower limb amputation involves removing part of the leg, or toe. This is the most common type of amputation. It is common in older patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) or diabetes.
Upper limb amputation includes lifting of the arm, hand, or finger. It is rare and tends to be done more frequently in young people, as a result of serious injury.
Both types of amputation are performed using general anesthesia (where you fall asleep) or epidural anesthesia (where only a certain part of your body is numbed using a spinal injection), so you won't feel any pain during the surgery.
5. Will the amputation improve my health problems?
Your outlook for amputation depends on:
- Your age. The younger you are, the easier it is for you to adapt to change.
- How many of the limbs have been amputated.
- How well you cope with the emotional and psychological consequences of amputation.
- Another underlying condition that can make amputation difficult.
You may feel emotional distress after losing a limb. Many people say losing a limb feels like losing a loved one. It will take time to recover from the emotional and psychological effects. It is best to seek support from people who have lost a limb. However, with long-term support and rehabilitation, many people, especially those who are young, are able to return to work, exercise and other activities.
