Overview
What is Amputation ?
Almost all leg amputations are performed because you are suffering from the effects of blood vessel disease. This means that you have either hardening of the arteries, poor artery circulation or a large clot in the artery which cannot be removed. Less common reasons include cancer, severe injury or infection, and congenital deformities. The most likely cause for amputation in patients with severe artery disease is the presence of severe pain or the possible development of gangrene.
Amputation, however, is always a last resort and will only be recommended if it does not look possible to improve the circulation in any other way. Arm amputations are much less common and are usually needed because of extensive injury.
Amputations are Caused by:
- Accidents
- Disease
- Congenital Disorders
Below the Knee Amputation Procedure
In a below the knee amputation procedure, a skew or posterior flap may be used, depending on the amount of skin damage. The leg is removed some 12-15 cm below the knee joint. There are major healthcare risks involved for the older patient, with 20% experiencing major complications. However, younger patients tend to fare better on average. Patients requiring below the knee amputation are advised to stop smoking and refrain from drinking. Healthcare advice also involves background checks on allergies, medications, and other variables that might adversely affect the outcome.
Types of lower limb amputation include : -
- Ankle disarticulation (Syme, Pyrogoff)
- Below-knee amputation (transtibial)
- Knee-amputation (knee disarticulation)
- Above knee amputation (transfemoral)
- Rotation/rotationplasty
- Hip disarticulation
- Hemipelvectomy
Ankle Disarticulation
The foot will be amputated through the ankle joint leaving the tibia and fibula in tact. This can be limiting to the amputee for the types of prosthetic devices due to the lack of room from the end of the residual limb to floor.
Transtibial Prosthesis
A transtibial amputation (sometimes one sees transtibal amputation) is an amputation above the foot but below the knee. Transtibial amputees have the greatest hope of regaining normal mobility. The knee is the part of the leg involving the most complex biomechanics; as this is intact for all transtibial amputees, the process of mimicking native leg movement becomes much easier for this population.
Transfemoral Prosthesis
A transfemoral prosthesis is an artificial limb that replaces a leg missing above the knee. Transfemoral amputees can have a very difficult time regaining normal movement. In general, a transfemoral amputee must use approximately 80% more energy to walk than a person with two whole legs.This is due to the complexities in movement associated with the knee.
Knee Disarticulation
A knee disarticulation is an amputee that requires a prosthesis that usually weight bears from the remaining condyles of the femur. The knee cap, tibia and fubula have been removed.
Rotationplasty
is an operative procedure where a portion of a limb is removed, while the remaining limb below the involved portion is rotated and reattached. This procedure is used when a portion of an extremity is injured or involved with a disease, such as cancer. The operation is also called a Van-ness rotation.
Hip Disarticulation
A hip disarticulation in most cases has a complete pelvis and will be missing the femur and below amputated.
Hemipelvectomy
A hemipelvectomy is a high level pelvic amputation. Along with hip-disarticulations, hemipelvectomies are the rarest of lower extremity amputations. In some cases, an internal hemipelvectomy can be performed, which is a limb-sparing procedure. A complete hemipelvectomy, however, is the amputation of half of the pelvis and the leg on that side. This type of procedure is also called transpelvic amputation.
Operation
You will have a general anaesthetic and be asleep or sometimes just an injection to numb you below the waist. If the latter takes place, you will be awake, you might feel that 'something is happening' in your leg but you will not feel any pain from the waist down. A cut is made so that, after removing the diseased part, you end up with a rounded stump made of healthy skin. You should plan to be in the hospital for a month to cover any delay in healing of the wound.
You may well be out before this. You may need alterations to your home, such as bath handles, and ramps, which will help you when you return. You will need to have a temporary wheelchair and learn how to use it
Complications
Other complications of amputation surgery include : -
- Chest infection
- Angina
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Pressure sores
- Wound infections in the stump
- Failure of the stump to heal
- Knee or hip joint contracture
- Deep venous thrombosis in the leg
- Phantom limb pain.
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