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What do you know about surgical approaches to amputation?

After a catastrophic injury, you learn doctors must amputate your affected limb. Understandably, you may experience a lot of uncertainty about your future.

Johns Hopkins Medicine explores surgical approaches to amputation. Build your personal injury case by understanding how medical professionals handle limb removal.

Typical amputation

During a standard procedure, surgeons amputate the limb and secure muscles to the bone’s cut end and cover it with skin. If the patient receives a prosthetic limb, soft tissue must pad the remaining limb. That way, the artificial limb bears weight without pain, infection or tissue degeneration.

Osseointegration

With this procedure, medical professionals amputate a body part and place a steel implant in the remaining bone. The prosthetic attaches to the implant. For leg amputations, osseointegration may help hip and leg bones take on limb bearings instead of the remaining soft tissue. This way, it feels more natural for the patient to walk.

Rotationplasty

Some cancer patients require amputation. If so, surgeons may perform a rotationplasty to remove the limb where cancer exists. If the surgical team discovers healthy tissue underneath the tumor, they flip it and reattach it. For instance, an amputated limb may have healthy bone and tissue. If so, the rotationplasty rotates the amputated limb and reconnects it to the remaining limb. That way, a healthy ankle or wrist joint becomes a knee or elbow substitution. After a successful procedure, patients may use a prosthetic limb.

Understanding amputation surgical options may help you navigate the loss of a limb. Educating yourself with facts also helps you navigate your personal injury case.