Amputation

Amputation is the surgical removal of a limb or extremity such as an arm, leg, foot, hand, toe, or finger.

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Amputation is the removal of a limb or extremity from the body. Amputation can occur from a traumatic accident, but it is typically performed during surgery. Areas that are most commonly in need of amputation include your arms, legs, hands, feet, toes, and fingers.

Amputation is sometimes necessary to help treat medical conditions, infections, and injuries to help improve your quality of life and promote healing. You may need an amputation if you have:

Severe injury to a limb
A birth defect
Poor blood flow
An infection that does not go away or becomes worse
Cancerous tumors
Wounds that will not heal
Frostbite
Gangrene, or tissue death
Peripheral arterial disease (PAD)
Diabetes

Our approach to amputation

At University of Iowa Health Care, our multidisciplinary approach to care means you will have a team of experts that includes orthopedic surgeons and physiatrists to guide you through the entire amputation process.

Together, they will work with you to create a personalized care plan that provides you with comprehensive, continuous care from surgery to rehabilitation. They will take the time to answer your questions to help you make the best-informed decision about your care and your recovery plan.

Additionally, physiatrists at our amputee clinic partner with the Amputee Coalition, a patient advocacy organization that provides educational materials, access to peer mentors, and support groups to amputees.

What to expect

If amputation is recommended for you, you will meet with your care team to walk you through the entire process, from surgery to recovery. They will make sure you’re informed and have a rehabilitation plan in place ahead of your surgery.

Before amputation

Before the procedure, your care team will provide you with pre-surgery instructions. You will most likely be asked to fast for several hours before the operation and may be asked to take medications leading up to your surgery.

When you are checked in for your surgery, your care team will again review the surgical plan with you and prepare you for surgery, including giving you anesthesia.

During amputation

During the procedure, the surgeon will remove any affected or damaged tissue or bone, leaving as much healthy tissue as possible. They may also smooth bone or shape muscle to help promote better healing and make it easier to fit a prosthetic limb, if that is part of your recovery plan. They will also seal any blood vessels before stitching up the area and dressing the wound.

After amputation

You will most likely need to stay in the hospital for a few days or weeks, depending on your condition. You will be given antibiotics to prevent infections and pain relievers to manage pain. You will be closely monitored by your surgical team to make sure healing is progressing as expected.

You will start working with physical therapy and rehabilitation specialists a few days after your surgery to help you adjust to changes in your everyday activities.

Complications following amputation

Most surgical procedures, including amputation, include a risk for complications such as bleeding, swelling, infection, and pain. If you experience any of these, please let your provider know right away.

Phanton limb syndrome

A common complication following amputation is phantom limb syndrome. This is when you can still feel pain or sensation in your missing limb. This occurs when the nerves in the amputated area continue to send signals to the brain. Even though the limb is not there, the feelings are real, and they often improve over time as the body adjusts to the change. Your provider can help you manage any pain or discomfort.

Recovery

Physiatrists from our amputee clinic will consult with you after your amputation to put together a rehabilitation plan that best improves your functioning and quality of life after the procedure. This may include a prosthesis or other mobility equipment and physical therapy.

Rehabilitation

University of Iowa Health Network Rehabilitation Hospital partners with Encompass Health to provide inpatient rehabilitation services that can help you adjust to life after amputation, and help you return home safely. Your physiatrist may recommend an inpatient rehab facility after surgery, like the University of Iowa Health Network Rehabilitation Hospital, where UI Health Care physiatrists continue to work with you on your road to recovery. They also work closely with your surgical care team to make it easy for you to get continuous care throughout your recovery.

They will help you accomplish your therapeutic goals by helping you improve muscle strength, adjust to moving with or without a prosthesis, work toward increasing your independence in everyday activities, and cope with new challenges. They will also provide education on skin care and prosthesis care.

Prosthetics

If you are interested in a prosthesis, you will meet with a physiatrist and a prosthetist to discuss your options and help you get the right equipment for you. Prosthesis fittings usually occur about six to eight weeks after surgery, depending on your healing time. After you get your prothesis, physical therapy can help you adjust to moving and using your artificial limb.

Mental health

Losing a limb can be a life-altering experience, and adjusting to the change can often cause feelings of anxiety or depression. If you experience any of these changes in mood, please talk to your care team. Your providers can connect you with mental health services and/or support groups to get resources and support you need.