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Learn About Amputation

What is an amputation?

Amputation is an acquired condition that results in the loss of a limb, usually from injury, disease, or surgery. Congenital (present at birth) limb deficiency occurs when an infant is born without part or all of a limb. In the US, 70 percent of amputations are due to disease, 22 percent to trauma, 4 percent are congenital, and 4 percent are due to tumors.

Amputation Statistics

• There are about 350,000 amputees living in the US, with about 135,000 new amputations each year.
• The peak age for amputations is between 41 and 70 years of age, with 75 percent of all amputations occurring in people over the age of 65.
• Amputation rates are higher in males than in females.
• African-Americans with diabetes have a 2.3 times greater rate of amputation that Caucasians with diabetes.
• Eighty percent of adult patients with amputations have blood vessel disease; 75 percent of this group also has diabetes.
• Congenital limb deficiencies account for about 50 percent of patients under the age of 15 seen in a pediatric amputee clinic.
• Acquired amputations in children are usually due to trauma (70 percent) and cancers (30 percent).

What causes the need for amputations?

The causes for amputation may include any of the following:

• diseases - such as blood vessel disease (called peripheral vascular disease or PVD), diabetes, blood clots, or osteomyelitis (an infection in the bones).
• injuries - especially of the arms. Seventy-five percent of upper extremity amputations are related to trauma.
• surgery - to remove tumors from bones and muscles.

Rehabilitation after amputation:

Loss of a limb produces a permanent disability that can impact a patient’s self-image, self-care, and mobility (movement). Rehabilitation of the patient with an amputation begins after surgery during the acute treatment phase. As the patient’s condition improves, a more extensive rehabilitation program is often begun.

The success of rehabilitation depends on many variables, including the following:

• level and type of amputation
• type and degree of any resulting impairments and disabilities
• overall health of the patient
• family support