Amputation: Removal of part or (Amputation definition) all of a body part that is enclosed by skin. Amputation can occur at an accident site, the scene of an animal attack (Amputation) definition, or a battlefield. Amputation is also performed as a surgical procedure. It is typically performed to prevent the spread of gangrene as a complication of frostbite, injury, diabetes, arteriosclerosis, or any other illness that impairs blood circulation. It is also performed to prevent the spread of bone cancer and to curtail the loss of blood and infection in a person who has suffered severe, irreparable damage to a limb. When performing an amputation, surgeons generally cut above the diseased or injured area so that a portion of healthy tissue remains to cushion the bone. Sometimes the location of a cut may depend in part on its suitability to be fitted with an artificial limb, or prosthesis.
Amputation definition: What Causes Amputation?
What Causes Amputation?
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. 75 percent of upper extremity amputations are related to trauma.
- Surgery: To remove tumors from bones and muscles.