Directory Image
This website uses cookies to improve user experience. By using our website you consent to all cookies in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

Causes And Procedures For Amputations

Author: Robert Smith
by Robert Smith
Posted: Sep 13, 2014
orthopedic surgeons

Amputations are the surgical removal of a limb or one of the extremities such as a finger, hand or foot. The types of amputations performed most often by orthopedic surgeons are those that fall just above or below the knee. Needless to say, amputation of a limb is considered a last resort that is only performed when other treatment has failed or is not viable and the person’s life is at stake. Most orthopedic surgeons consider the necessity to amputate a limb as a failed treatment.

Reasons for Amputation

  • Poor circulation resulting from a narrowing of the arteries
  • Severe injury
  • A neuroma, thickening of the nerve tissue
  • Antibiotic-resistant infections
  • Cancerous tumors of the bone or muscle
  • Frostbite

How Amputation is Performed

The time the patient will spend in the hospital and the length of recovery will depend on the type of amputation being performed and whether there are complications that arise. Hospital stays are often from a few days to a couple of weeks. The patient will either be put to sleep with general anesthesia or be given a spinal block to numb them from the waist down.

When orthopedic surgeons perform amputations, their goal is to remove all of the damaged tissue without taking more of the healthy tissue than necessary. Although they do not want to remove more of the limb than necessary, leaving behind diseased tissue could result in additional surgeries later or in the development of other complications.

A number of methods are used to determine where the limb will be amputated and the amount of tissue that should be removed. The doctor may check for a pulse in the area or compare the skin temperature in different areas of the affected limb with the one that is healthy. They may look for skin that has become red or determine what areas may have become sensitive to the touch.

During the Surgery

When the surgeon performs the surgery, they will remove the tissue that is damaged along with any crushed bone. Any bone that is left behind will be smoothed. Blood vessels and nerves will be sealed off and the muscles cut and shaped at the end of the stump where an artificial limb can be attached. Sometimes orthopedic surgeons will close the wound immediately after the surgery or they may leave it open for a few days in case additional tissue needs to be removed. The limb may then be placed in traction and drainage tubes or bandages may be used to collect fluids that seep from the wound.

After the Surgery

The doctor will monitor the patient’s condition, along with any other conditions like diabetes that might prevent or slow down the healing process. The patient will receive medication for pain and to prevent the site from becoming infected. Some people who have amputations continue to have phantom pain, the sensation of pain in their missing limb. Sometimes orthopedic surgeons will prescribe medications for the condition and/or counseling if they deem it necessary. Physical therapy is often begun within two weeks after the procedure is performed. Although the loss of a limb usually requires an emotional and physical adjustment, it is a life-saving procedure that is only performed when necessary.

If you are based in Phoenix, you may visit the following website:

Orthopedics In Phoenix Az

About the Author

I write on many diffrent topics. Follow me to read all great articles.

Rate this Article
Author: Robert Smith
Premium Member

Robert Smith

Member since: Mar 26, 2014
Published articles: 313

Related Articles