ABOUT AMPUTATION:

Amputation is the removal of an injured or diseased body part. It may be needed due to an accident or injury, or may have to be planned to prevent the spread of the disease from one area to another, eg. infection, gangrene, etc. It may be complete amputation, when the body part is totally severed, the part sometimes can be reattached if viable and stored properly. In a partial amputation, some soft-tissue connection remains. Depending on the severity of the injury, the partially severed extremity may or may not be able to be reattached. It can be a Major or a Minor Amputation depending on the extent of the injury and the health of the remaining body part. If possible, the amputation site is closed by rearranging skin and shortening the bone or tendon. If not, skin, muscle or tendons from another part of body may have to be grafted. Prosthesis may be applied post surgery to make the amputed part usable. This procedure is performed by an Orthopaedician.