Amputation

Surgical removal of part or all of a limb. Amputation is necessary if peripheral vascular disease as a result of atherosclerosis or diabetes mellitus has impaired the blood supply to a limb. If blood supply cannot be restored, amputation is carried out to prevent the development of gangrene. Amputation may also be needed if a limb has been irreparably damaged in an accident. For some time after amputation, there may be an unpleasant sensation that the limb is still present, a phenomenon known as “phantom limb”. A prosthesis (see limb, artificial) is usually fitted when the stump has healed.