Doctor explains Limb Amputation | Procedure, recovery and more

In this video Dr O'Donovan explains key things you need to know about limb amputation.

Amputation is the surgical removal of all or part of a limb or extremity, such as a leg, arm, foot, hand, toe, or finger. It is a major surgical procedure that is performed for various reasons, including severe injury, disease, or tumors.

REASONS FOR AMPUTATION:

Trauma: Accidents, such as road traffic collisions, can cause severe damage requiring amputation.

Disease:Conditions like diabetes, peripheral artery disease, and certain cancers can severely impair blood flow and lead to tissue damage, necessitating amputation.

Infection:Severe infections, such as sepsis, can damage tissues and require amputation to prevent further spread.

Tumors: Primary bone cancer or soft tissue sarcoma in a limb may require amputation, though limb-sparing surgery is sometimes possible.

Chronic Pain or Reduced Quality of Life: In some cases, chronic pain or a severely reduced quality of life due to a limb condition can be a factor in the decision to amputate.

TYPES OF AMPUTATION:

Upper limb: This includes amputations of the arm, hand, or fingers.
Lower limb: This includes amputations of the leg, foot, or toes.
Disarticulation: This involves separating a limb at a joint, such as wrist disarticulation or elbow disarticulation.
Below-knee amputation (BKA): A common amputation of the leg below the knee.
Above-knee amputation (AKA): A common amputation of the leg above the knee.

Surgical Procedure:

Closed amputation: The surgeon closes the wound by sewing the skin flaps immediately after removing the limb.

Open amputation: The surgeon leaves the wound open for a few days to allow for potential tissue removal or drainage.

Recovery and rehab from amputation:

Rehabilitation is crucial after amputation, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, and prosthetic fitting.

Residual limb pain: Many individuals experience pain in the residual limb, also known as stump or phantom limb pain.


Content and timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction
00:41 - Reasons for amputation
01:03 - What happens before surgery?
02:04 - What does amputation involve?
02:45 - Recovery from amputation
03:38 - Amputation rehabilitation
06:26 - Emotional impact of amputation

*Website resources*

NHS UK information - https://www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatmen...

Cleveland Clinic USA - https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health...

Limbless Assosciation - https://limbless-association.org

Amputation Foundation - https://amputationfoundation.org

Steel Bone - https://steelbone.co.uk

Video made: July 2025

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