Since 1995 - Non Profit Healthcare Advice

Amputation

Amputation of a body part is a “life-changing event” that affects a person’s:

  • body image
  • mood
  • ability to move around
  • ability to care for him/herself
  • work
  • non-work-related activities.

Many issues arise following the loss of all or part of a person’s limb(s); however, the long-term outcomes for amputees continue to improve.

 

Amputation Statistics

Although over 90 percent of limb loss is “acquired”, up to 4 percent is congenital (present at birth). Of the roughly 185,000 amputation surgeries performed each year in the United States,

  • up to 90 percent are due to vascular disease (circulation problems), especially in people with diabetes, but also in non-diabetic smokers.
  • the remaining ~10 percent are
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