Amputations

Amputation of a body part can have a profound impact on other bodily systems and give rise to multiple complications. In these cases, communication and coordination among all specialists are crucial to achieving beneficial outcomes.

Treatment
Amputations and their complications, cost insurance companies millions of dollars in medical payouts each year. According to the American College of Surgeons, reducing costs and improving outcomes of trauma care depend on the quality of initial assessments and whether there is an organized, systematic approach to care and treatment.

Physical Consequences
Studies have shown that complications associated with traumatic injuries such as amputations are one of the most influential variables affecting hospital length-of-stay, total cost, and period of rehabilitation. Some of the most prevalent complications include:

• Delayed wound healing
• Skin breakdown
• Disfigurement
• Revision of the amputation
• Wound infection
• Chronic pain
• Sepsis (blood infection)
• Blood clots
• Poor prosthetic function

Treatment Challenges
The care of individuals with an amputation is a multifaceted process that encompasses a wide range of services and specialists. There are many challenges to treating this complex medical condition that can impede recovery, including:

• Need for trauma specialists. Ideally, all potential amputation candidates would be initially treated by a trauma or other highly skilled surgeon to ensure that the amputation is necessary and, when necessary, is performed appropriately. It is also vital to include experts in prosthetic management early in the recovery process.
• Coordination of Specialties. Most persons with an amputation injury are cared for by a team of specialists who are each concerned with the implifications of the amputation on a specific body part or system, rather than focusing on the total needs of the individual.
• Communication among specialists. Constant contact among specialists is crucial to ensuring that everyone is working toward the same outcome.
• Shock to loved ones. Family members must adjust their lives to care for a loved one who may be disfigured. How well the amputee’s family responds to this kind of trauma is a critical factor in the injured person’s emotional and physical recovery.

• Focusing on the long term. The final outcome is often overlooked, especially in the acute phase of treatment, when the priority is stabilization. Clinicians who plan toward the final outcome can reduce costs, improve outcomes, and speed recovery.

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Disclaimer: This site is for informational purposes only. The content on this site is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your health care provider if you have any questions regarding your medical condition. Please note that interactions on this site between you and a physician or nurse do not constitute or result in the formation of a physician/injured person and/or nurse/injured person relationship.