Medical Help Desk

  Amputation is surgery to remove all or part of a limb or extremity. You may need an amputation if you’ve undergone a severe injury or infection or have a health condition like peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Many people live a healthy, active lifestyle after an amputation, but it may take time to get used to life without a limb. What is an amputation? Amputation is surgery to remove all or part of a limb or extremity (outer limbs). Common types of amputation involve: Above-knee amputation, removing part of the thigh, knee, shin, foot and toes. Below-knee amputation, removing the lower leg, foot and toes. Arm amputation. Hand amputation. Finger amputation. Foot amputation, removing part of the foot. Toe amputation. Amputation can be necessary to keep an infection from spreading through your limbs and to manage pain. The most common reason for an amputation is a wound that does not heal. Often this can be from not having enough blood flow to that limb. After a severe injury, such as