Traumatic Amputation

The total amputation of a limb involves the surgical severing of it from the rest of the body. The partial amputation of a limb involves the surgical severing of a portion of it from that part of the body to which it is normally attached. According to recent statistics, there are more than two million people living with limb loss in the United States .

Many times, amputation is done because of disease or some other adverse medical condition. Examples include:
• Malignant tumors of the bone or the muscles of a limb
• Serious infections that do not respond to antibiotics or other treatment
• Diabetes
• Neuromas (thickening of nerve tissue)
• Frostbite
• Serious burns
In those cases, amputation often involves the individual making a conscious decision to undergo the procedure as an alternative to medical treatment, the prolongation of pain or other factors associated with not having the amputation. While still a major decision with major implications, it is nonetheless, one that an individual makes after forethought and in concert with physicians, therapists, family, friends and others.

Traumatic amputation and its implications are much different. It is defined as the amputation of a body part resulting from an accident, catastrophic injury or other trauma. The venues in which traumatic amputation can occur are nearly limitless, and include:
• Motor vehicle collisions
• Factory accidents
• Farm accidents
• Power tool accidents
• Natural disasters
• War
• Terrorist attacks
• Any other type of occurrence resulting in catastrophic injuries

Virtually any protrusion of the body can be the subject of traumatic amputation including, fingers, hands, arms, toes, feet, legs, noses and other appendages.

Among the factors that differentiate an amputation carried out for medical reasons from a traumatic amputation include:
• Unexpectedness of the occurrence, both for the client and his or her family
• The inability of the client to plan future therapies, preservation of physical well being, medical care and finances

One of the biggest issues that accompanies traumatic amputation, involves the psychological implications of it for the individual. Even these are superimposed upon the adaptive changes that he or she will have to make because of the traumatic amputation. The Client Goal Plan, specialized rehabilitation, clinically relevant services, help with activities of daily living (ADLs), all done with the goal of independence and achieving the best possible outcome is the target.

Traumatic amputation can present a four-fold threat: it involves a loss of function, a loss of body image, a loss of sensation and what might only be called a “why me?” factor. The latter is psychological but crucial and normal .

• The degree of psychological problems generally increases with age. Related to this are other aspects of health, finances and occupation;
• Personality style has a bearing on both traumatic and medical amputations. Specifically, one who is invested in his or her physical appearance and power tend to reach more negatively to amputation and see it as an assault on those factors of his or her personality;
• Economic and vocational variables play a part. An individual who earns a living based mostly on motor skills and therefore have the most to lose from an amputation has greater adverse reactions to amputations. An individual with a wider range of skills and who is therefore less dependent upon the loss of any particular limb will tend to experience emotional turmoil.
• One with a good support system of friends and family throughout life and post-amputation generally fare better than one who is more transient, single or widowed.

It is important for the success and independence of any amputee-client that a team approach is taken, including in post-acute rehabilitaton. The team should include RNs, prosthetic professionals, physical therapists, occupational therapists, social workers, vocational counselors, and if needed, psychologists or psychiatrists.

NeuLife, in Mount Dora, Florida, is a fully accessible residential post-acute program providing superior care and specialized rehabilitation to individuals diagnosed with traumatic brain injury (TBI), spinal cord injury (SCI), traumatic amputations and other catastrophic injuries.
2725 Robie Avenue
Mount Dora, Florida 32757
Call: 800.626.3836
Email: Info@NeuLifeRehab.com
Visit: NeuLifeRehab.com