Limb Amputation Treatment

Limb amputation treatment is a surgical procedure usually performed to permanently remove one of your body parts which is damaged by the injury or affected by a serious disease. Although, the treatment is not an easy procedure for both the patient and the operating surgeon. It requires a lot of mental strength and resilience. Doctors decide to perform limb amputation when they find that there is no way to secure the whole body from spreading the disease to all body parts. Injury and diseases are the main causes that generally affect your limbs.  

Types of Limb Amputation 

There are several types of limb amputation which are as follows: 

• Leg Amputation
• Finger Amputation
• Foot Amputation
• Toe Amputation
• Hand Amputation 

Causes of Limb Amputation 

There could be several reasons for a limb amputation. The most primary cause is unusual blood circulation because of damage or narrowing of the arteries. Because of insufficient blood flow, the body’s cells could not get enough oxygen and nutrients which they needed from the bloodstream. Hence, the affected tissue starts to die and leads to infection in the body. This is key factor of causing limb amputation there other reason that can also be responsible for limb amputation which include:

• Vehicle accident which causes serious injury
• Cancerous tumor occurrence in an any bone
• Severe infection which does not get better from antibiotics 
• Frostbite ( a condition in which underlying tissues of the skin got freezed) 
• Neuroma ( a condition in which nerves tissues get thicken)  

Risks of Limb Amputation 

Following are the possible risks that could be pose after the limb amputation surgery: 

• Chronic pain 
• Cardiovascular Problems
• Respiratory Failure like heart and kidney failure
• Pneumonia 
• Blood Clotting

Limb Amputation Treatment Procedure 

Before Surgery 

a) Assessment 

Your healthcare team will thoroughly evaluate the severity of your condition or injury. In some instances, they may try to preserve your limb through advanced surgical procedures known as limb salvage surgery. If this option is available, your doctor will review the potential risks and benefits with you. If limb preservation isn’t possible, they will use the assessment results to plan the necessary surgery.

b) Counselling 

Amputation involves more than just the surgical procedure; it’s a physical and emotional journey with long-term effects. Your healthcare team will therefore include more than just surgeons. You may collaborate with different therapists to help you prepare for the surgery and plan your recovery. If you’re interested in a prosthetic limb, you’ll also meet with a prosthetist to discuss the available options.

During Surgery 

During the surgery, your surgeon will remove all affected and damaged tissue while preserving as much healthy tissue as possible. They may need to perform microsurgery to repair specific nerves or blood vessels. The surgeon might also smooth or shape the end of your bone and often sew the muscle to the bone for additional support. Enough soft tissue will be left at the stump’s end to allow for proper closure.

You may have already talked with your surgeon about a specific type of prosthesis. In certain situations, they may take additional steps during your surgery to help prepare you for that prosthesis. Examples of these steps include:

1. Target Muscle Reinnervation 

This technique is used for upper limb amputees which helps in controlling a myoelectric arm or hand easier. After the amputation, the surgeon reroutes the nerves that originally controlled the lost limb to a new “target muscle” elsewhere on the body, usually in the shoulder or chest. This allows for more intuitive control of the prosthesis by activating the relocated muscle.

2. Osseointegration 

Osseointegration is the process of attaching your prosthesis directly to your bone (osseo-). In this procedure, the surgeon implants a metal anchor into the bone at the end of your limb, which extends outward. Your prosthesis can then be securely attached to this anchor, making it simpler to put on and remove. Additionally, this approach can help minimize skin complications that can sometimes occur with traditional prosthetic sockets.

3. Rotationplasty 

Rotationplasty is a transformative and innovative procedure that can offer an empowering solution for certain individuals. It involves removing part or all of the upper leg and reattaching the healthy lower leg in its place, with the ankle repositioned to function as a knee. This allows you to use a below-the-knee prosthesis instead of an above-the-knee one, enhancing your mobility and making movement feel more natural. With this approach, you gain increased independence and a greater ability to engage in everyday activities with ease and confidence.

After Surgery

Once your surgery is done you need to spend a few weeks in the hospital for recovery. During hospital stay you’ll be given an oxygen mask, pain management medications and necessary fluids through an IV for better recovery. In the meantime a team of healthcare providers will carefully monitor your all vitals and wound healing. After a few days a physical  therapist will evaluate your condition and then suggest physical therapies and small exercise that will contribute to your recovery. Hence, you’ll’’ continue your rehabilitation either at home or in a rehabilitation centre. Your rehabilitation include: 

• Physical Therapy: You’ll need to move your  body on a daily basis in order to prevent your tissues from stiffness. You’ll also  need to adapt new methods to use your body in new ways. 
• Occupational Therapy: Occupational therapy assists you to know and adjust your daily life according to your new physical condition. It will guide you in finding alternative ways to complete regular tasks in both professional place and and home. 
• Psychotherapy: Psychotherapy is equally important as physical therapy because amputation is stressful procedure which often leads to depression and anxiety. 
• Prosthesis Fitting and Training: If you are willing to use a prosthetic limb you’ll need to start the fitting process once you have recovered and it require training for multiple months.