Amputations - Why is Amputation Necessary?
Amputation is an acquired condition that results in the loss of a limb, usually from injury, disease, or surgery.
Congenital (present at birth) limb deficiency occurs when an infant is born without part or all of a limb.
In the US, 82 percent of amputations are due to vascular disease, 22 percent to trauma, 4 percent are congenital, and 4 percent are due to tumors.
According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), about 1.
9 million individuals in the United States are living with an amputation, with approximately 113,000 lower limb amputations performed each year.
Peripheral arterial disease (PAD), due to atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), is the leading cause of amputation in people age 50 and older, and accounts for up to 90 percent of amputations.
PAD causes the blood vessels in your limbs to become damaged because of hardening of the arteries or diabetes.
Cells within your body depend on a constant supply of oxygen and nutrients delivered to them by your blood.
If your blood vessels are unable to supply blood and oxygen to your fingers or toes, the cells and tissues die and are vulnerable to infection.
If the blood supply cannot be improved sufficiently or if the tissue is beyond salvage, extensive tissue death may require amputation, especially if you are experiencing severe pain or infection.
A traumatic injury, such as a car accident or a severe burn, can also destroy blood vessels and cause tissue death.
If infection is not adequately treated, it can spread through your body and threaten your life.
The medical team will make every effort to save your limb by surgically replacing or repairing your damaged blood vessels or using donor tissue.
If these measures do not work, amputation can save your life.
Traumatic injuries are the most common reason for amputations in people younger than age 50.
A physician may recommend amputation if you have a cancerous tumor in your limb.
Chemotherapy, radiation, or other treatments may be used to destroy the cancer cells.
These treatments can shrink the tumor and may increase the effectiveness of your amputation.
Congenital (present at birth) limb deficiency occurs when an infant is born without part or all of a limb.
In the US, 82 percent of amputations are due to vascular disease, 22 percent to trauma, 4 percent are congenital, and 4 percent are due to tumors.
According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), about 1.
9 million individuals in the United States are living with an amputation, with approximately 113,000 lower limb amputations performed each year.
Peripheral arterial disease (PAD), due to atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), is the leading cause of amputation in people age 50 and older, and accounts for up to 90 percent of amputations.
PAD causes the blood vessels in your limbs to become damaged because of hardening of the arteries or diabetes.
Cells within your body depend on a constant supply of oxygen and nutrients delivered to them by your blood.
If your blood vessels are unable to supply blood and oxygen to your fingers or toes, the cells and tissues die and are vulnerable to infection.
If the blood supply cannot be improved sufficiently or if the tissue is beyond salvage, extensive tissue death may require amputation, especially if you are experiencing severe pain or infection.
A traumatic injury, such as a car accident or a severe burn, can also destroy blood vessels and cause tissue death.
If infection is not adequately treated, it can spread through your body and threaten your life.
The medical team will make every effort to save your limb by surgically replacing or repairing your damaged blood vessels or using donor tissue.
If these measures do not work, amputation can save your life.
Traumatic injuries are the most common reason for amputations in people younger than age 50.
A physician may recommend amputation if you have a cancerous tumor in your limb.
Chemotherapy, radiation, or other treatments may be used to destroy the cancer cells.
These treatments can shrink the tumor and may increase the effectiveness of your amputation.
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