Amputation
For most people, just hearing the word “amputation” stirs up feelings of anxiety and fear. Yet limb loss is not uncommon: each year in America more than 150,000 people face this life-changing experience. The most frequent causes are vascular disease, diabetes and cancer; about 70 percent of these patients are older adults. Traumatic limb injury is also a cause of amputation and usually occurs by way of motor vehicle accidents, on-the-job and recreational injuries, and military service in war zones.
Congenital Limb Deficiencies
Of every 100,000 births in the United States, about 26 people are born with partial or malformed limbs, many of which lead to amputations. People with congenital limb deficiency or parents of babies born with limb deficiencies often face complicated choices. Do they accept and then adapt to living with their limb deficiency? Do they seek corrective surgery? Do they wait until their child is older and let them be part of the decision process? Do they try using a prosthesis? Do they amputate the limb in order to make it easier to wear a prosthesis? Consulting with a prosthetist can help you address these questions. Also, seek out the firsthand experience of others who have faced this situation.