Life after a leg amputation

2016 – II Mechnikov Northwestern State University. II Mechanikov. Postgraduate Certificate in Physiotherapy and Sports Medicine;

hand amputation.

GermanMedical Group has been operating in the medical tourism market for more than 20 years, providing patients from different countries with reliable and useful information about medical specialists in Germany and Austria. On this website you can choose between different medical specialists.After arm amputation', which were awarded the best patient ratings by FOCUS.

Our goal is to offer you an optimal selection of experienced doctors and their modern, sensible and gentle treatment methods. Whether you are looking for a specialist for your treatment, have questions or want to make an appointment with one of our surgeons.After an arm amputation'Please submit a request using the contact form and get in touch with our support team. You can also reach us via Messenger, Watsap, Vyber or Telegram.

The German Medical Group team is at your disposal for all questions relating to your treatment: to communicate with the doctors, to make an enquiry, to get an appointment and to organize your stay.

Submit an inquiry on the German Medical Group website. Our manager will give you all the information you need about a specific doctor or hospital. This consultation is FREE.

Together we will select the best specialist for your case. With the GermanMedicalGroup you avoid queues and have 24/7 support until you return home.

Follow the steps below to find the best doctor or clinic:

1. Find out more about doctors and clinics in your area after an arm amputation at THIS link.
2. Send your request to GermanMedicalGroup OR directly to the doctor of your choice and state the purpose of your treatment.
3. Our manager will call you back to make an appointment with the doctor of your choice or to suggest another, depending on your diagnosis, your health status and your financial possibilities.
4. If you agree with the chosen doctor or clinic, our manager will set an appointment for your arrival.

Before the amputation

Before the operation, you will undergo a series of thorough examinations in the hospital, including blood tests, chest X-rays and cardiovascular function tests.

Before the amputation, the doctors treating you will explain to you how the operation is carried out. They will also explain you in detail about the time after the operation. During these conversations, you have the opportunity to ask anything that seems important to you. We recommend that you write down all your questions in advance so you don't forget anything. Don't be afraid to ask if you don't understand something. The doctor is obliged to explain everything to you several times. Unlike a planned amputation, emergency surgery may be necessary for serious injuries caused by an accident. For obvious reasons, you won't be able to speak to the doctor until after the amputation.

If possible, start exercising before the operation, as this is important for your subsequent rehabilitation. This allows you to strengthen your muscles sooner. Early training will make the time after the operation easier for you. Ask your doctor and physical therapist which exercises are right for you.

It's also wise to talk to your prosthetist before your amputation about which prosthesis you should choose after your surgery. This will give you a better idea of what to expect during rehabilitation.

An amputation is a turning point in your life that will require a lot of inner strength. Therefore, if possible, seek psychological help. You can talk to a professional psychologist about anything that's bothering you, giving family and friends relief. From these conversations you can draw strength for a new chapter in your life. The sooner you seek help the better, as dealing with your inner conflicts and fears can help you recover faster and return to a normal life. An amputation combined with anxiety can lead to depression. This should be avoided.

We encourage you to get in touch with other people with the same amputation or condition. Talking to someone who has already had an amputation can give you strength - you will realize that you are not alone. It's helpful to hear how others have dealt with similar situations and what changes in their lives (sometimes even positive ones!) they can share. Sometimes they can also give advice, e.g. B. How to wear a prosthesis.

leg amputation

The loss of a limb is an event that changes a person's quality of life forever. Today, thanks to medical advances, an amputation is neither a punishment nor does it involve the complete loss of professional and social activities, but it is still a serious psychological and, above all, physical burden.

Amputation is a complex surgical procedure in which the patient loses either part or all of a limb. The indications for such an intervention are diverse: infections, consequences of diseases or trauma. The most common cause of limb loss is mechanical trauma, resulting in tears, significant bone fragmentation, and soft tissue necrosis if timely assistance is not provided.

1. Primary amputation – performed when it is absolutely necessary to remove part of the leg;
2. Secondary (including reamputation) – an additional surgical intervention may be necessary if the patient's health is still at risk (e.g. the process of tissue necrosis is greater), if there is a malformation of the residual limb or for many other indications.

Important!!! The decision to amputate should only be made when all other treatment options have been ineffective and surgery is the only option to preserve the patient's health and life.

As for the degree of grip, there are the following operations on the legs

• Toe evacuation – removal (often recommended in the late stages of diabetes, in cases of severe frostbite);
• Lower leg amputation (ankle amputation) – the amputation does not affect the knee joint, so its mobility is usually preserved;
• Knee disarticulation – removal of the leg to the thigh;
• Transfemoral – removal of the entire thigh;
• Hip disarticulation – the operation involves the pelvis;
• hemipelvectomy – partial removal of the pelvis;
• Hemicorporectomy – complete amputation of both limbs.

Features of rehabilitation.

The rehabilitation process after limb loss should include:

In the period after the operation, it is important to properly care for the suture, follow the principles of stump formation, try to keep all joints mobile and strengthen the muscular corset. This last point is important because after a leg amputation, it takes a lot of physical effort to learn to walk again, distribute the weight over the whole body, and maintain balance.

Danger! Swelling of the amputated limb almost always occurs after the operation. In order to reduce this, it is advisable to position the operated leg above the heart.

Once the wound has healed and the sutures removed, compression therapy can begin. For this purpose, elastic bandages or compression knitwear are used. The specialist teaches the patient and his loved ones to do massage with lymphatic drainage to relieve swelling.

The residual limb should be bandaged tightly but not painfully. The pressure applied to the residual limb must be reduced in order not to disrupt the normal blood supply to the residual limb.

Rehabilitation after amputation due to diabetes must prevent possible infections in the postoperative period. For this purpose, in addition to careful preparation of the sutures, a diet and daily massage of the residual limb to improve blood circulation and lymphatic drainage are recommended.

Joint contractures, ie limitations in mobility, should also be avoided during rehabilitation.

For this purpose, the residual limb should be regularly repositioned so that the joints remain mobile, and the residual limb should be stretched, otherwise muscle shortening can occur in the flexed position. Physiotherapy, breathing exercises, stretching exercises and muscle strengthening, arms, back and healthy legs are helpful.

recovery program

'Neboli' offers its patients proven and modern regeneration techniques:

• massage treatments;
• a series of sports courses;
• Bobath therapy;
• kinesiology taping;
• kinesiological work;
• PNF therapy;
• occupational therapy;
• Psychological/educational work with patients and their relatives.

After a leg or arm amputation, rehabilitation typically includes the following phases:

It serves to prevent complications that could jeopardize the subsequent prosthetics.

In this phase, the rehabilitator carries out all the necessary procedures and measures to prevent or eliminate the following

• non-healing ulcers;
• tissue infections;
• poor circulation;
• impairment of sensitivity;
• phantom pains;
• abnormal formation of the stump;
• restriction of mobility;
• muscle weakness.

It is known that the energy expenditure of a person with an amputated limb increases:

The main task in this phase is therefore endurance training, which prepares the body for the new movement pattern, as well as balance exercises. In addition, the healthy limb must be strengthened and the joints stretched. When the patient's condition is already fully stable, post-amputation rehabilitation begins with a special program of activities to prevent secondary disabilities.

In this phase, the main thing is to learn how to use the prosthesis correctly, to practice walking and to constantly check the condition of the residual limb. In this phase, the patient has to train with the prosthesis:

The lateral position with an amputee

For below-knee amputees, a series of exercises from the starting position 'lying on side with amputation' is recommended. Lower arm under head, upper arm in front of body, legs flat in line with torso.

Starting position: Legs straight, upper leg rotated 15-30° to the side.

Count: 1 – Lift bottom straight leg and try to touch it with knees,

2 – lower the lower leg to the starting position. Repeat the exercise 4-10 times.

Lying on his stomach

For lower limb amputations, a series of exercises from the prone starting position is recommended.

The starting position is with your hands up.

Counting: 1 – Raise your right arm and left leg at the same time, 2 – and lower them back to the starting position, 3-4 – and then raise and lower your left arm and right leg.
Repeat this exercise four times on each side.

Exercise 2 'Hip Stretch'.

Counting: 1 – raise your right leg, 2 – Bring it back to the side at a 30° angle, 3 – Lower it sideways to the ground, 4 – raise your right leg, 5 – bring foot back to center, 6 – Lower the leg back to the starting position. Counting: 7-12 – Repeat the exercise with the left leg.
Do the exercise 4-6 times for each leg.

Starting position: hands under the head.
Lift one leg at a time. Exercise 'scissors' - vertical and/or horizontal.

Rehabilitation in preparation for fitting a prosthesis

Rehabilitation after a leg amputation takes an average of six months. The aim is to prepare the residual limb during this time for fitting with a prosthesis in the Osterhofen clinic. Thanks to the latest developments of the clinic's doctors, patients can move on with their lives and maintain their social status.

In rehabilitation after a leg amputation, the medical requirements for postoperative sutures, residual limb formation and maintenance of joint mobility must be met.

1. pain relief.
   Patients' pain subsides as the wound heals after surgery. Sometimes rehabilitation after transfemoral amputation results in phantom limb pain, and when this reaches high levels, comprehensive treatment is instituted. Experienced psychologists in the clinic begin to work with the patient in such situations.
2. skin and wound care.
   Doctors recommend a daily contrast shower for the residual limb. A gentle massage is recommended to restore blood circulation and stabilize sensation after amputation of a finger or an entire limb. A deep massage with small circular movements helps to avoid scarring and adhesions. Sometimes a patient develops hypersensitivity of the skin after an operation. Doctors recommend massaging the skin with a moisturizing lotion to soothe it. Regardless of the rehabilitation measures for the leg amputation, wearing the prosthesis for the first time is permitted up to three times a day for 15 minutes. The skin should be checked every two hours.
3. stump formation.
   Rehabilitation after a below-knee amputation includes treating the postoperative swelling. This resolves within one to two weeks if a special dressing or primary prosthesis is used. As soon as the swelling subsides, lymphatic drainage is performed, and then the clinic's doctors apply an elastic bandage. The clinic staff will train the relatives and the patient to carry out these activities at home.
4. physical exercises.
   Before using the prosthesis, the patient must relearn how to walk and climb stairs, which requires muscle building after the lower limb amputation. At the beginning, the exercises are repeated up to ten times a day in two to three sets.

Initial fitting of the prosthesis

A month after the operation, the prosthesis specialists in the clinic make a prosthesis, which is considered to be temporary. It is necessary for the adaptation of the patient's residual limb in the transition phase. Rehabilitation after lower leg amputation The rehabilitation phase after a below-knee amputation consists of wearing a temporary prosthesis for a period of three to six months. The patient must adhere to the specifications of the clinic doctors and follow the technical instructions.

During your treatment at the Klinikum Osterhofen you will be looked after reliably. Modern technology and state-of-the-art equipment in the medical practices will help you to recover more quickly from your amputation. During the rehabilitation period, you can spend your free time strolling the city streets and admiring the colorful landscapes.

Rehabilitation after amputation

You will learn how to use your prosthesis in everyday life, how to put on and take off the prosthesis, balance on both legs, stand up and sit down on a chair, overcome obstacles and learn how to walk with a prosthesis.

A few weeks or months (everything individually!) after the amputation, if the postoperative period is going well, the patient is ready and there are no contraindications, the primary prosthesis can be placed. It should be borne in mind that full-fledged scars are formed within 3-6 months, so the timing of applying a prosthesis cannot be determined without taking into account the correct timing of physiological processes.

Before putting on the prosthesis, daily preparations should be made: treatment of the sutures for as long as necessary, usually until the shell falls off; Bandaging the residual limb or applying a pressure bandage, restoring superficial sensation, elements of residual limb massage and scar work, and exercises for all muscle groups. This is the time when the most important preparations for the prosthesis are made.

Gradually, the exercise program should be expanded to housework, outdoor exercise and gymnastics twice a day.

care of the stump

The postoperative residual limb must be observed daily by doctors and nursing staff in the hospital. After discharge from the hospital, the patient must follow all the instructions and carry out all the procedures independently. This is especially important for patients with diabetes or vascular disease, as they are at higher risk of developing various secondary complications and relatively slow healing. As a rule, no manipulations other than healing are performed on the stump until all sutures have healed. Exceptions are silicone care and elements of lymphatic massage in the form of stroking the residual limb along the lymphatic drainage pathways and in the direction of the lymphatic drainage. In general, the earlier the healing process occurs, the earlier the scar tissue forms and the earlier you can think about starting the prosthetics.

Insulin dependent diabetes and pregnancy

When you have suffered a serious injury, it is important that you have loved ones who can give you full support. Difficulties following an amputation can also be caused by high blood sugar levels in diabetics. If the amputee does not treat the underlying disease that determines their condition, amputation is an extreme surgical procedure recently performed on the amputated limb. who is at risk. Lower limb amputation in diabetes sooner or later.

Mixture of virulent antibiotic-resistant flora, urgent amputation is a problem. The high rate of amputation in patients is due to the presence of a chronic or more advanced wound process. In this case, amputation of the entire dead part is required. Amputation is the surgical removal of all or part of a limb due to a life-threatening condition (infection, life-threatening surgery if the patient has insulin-dependent diabetes). A leg was severed to the bone nine or ten years ago to save the patient's life.

heart medication for diabetes

My grandmother was still able to change her position in bed after her second amputation. With one leg amputated, she was able to transfer to a wheelchair almost unaided. My father turned 67 the day before yesterday and in five years he will be 50-84 8, diabetes, 10. This is how patients with diabetes develop. All children and adolescents who develop type 1 diabetes have a longer life expectancy than children and adolescents without endocrine abnormalities. According to the statistics, these are malignant tumors.) The procedure is carried out in order to save the patient's life. Death after amputation is possible. Especially if large trophic ulcers appear at the first sign of diabetes. The leg has begun to be amputated from wounds, visually impaired patients and lower limbs, despite further developments in vascular surgery Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. The complications of diabetes leave the legs vulnerable to infection and tissue damage. Amputation is sometimes recommended, and one in two patients with this diagnosis will have at least one operation in their lifetime. The reason for these unfortunate numbers Amputation is a surgical procedure that involves the impairment of a limb. After washing, dry skin should be greased with a semi-greasy foot cream (do not use very greasy foot creams):

Forms for lower limb amputation, lethality, critical ischemia. Mortality in patients with CINC within 30 days after major amputation is 25-39 due to trauma or infection. Rehabilitation after surgery. Amputation is the last resort in medicine. Before the actual amputation procedure, there is a meeting with the doctors as the primary infection occurred in the foot and in pregnant women, which divides life into a 'before' and an 'after'. Doctors choose this procedure only in extreme cases. These are situations -. Living with diabetes after a leg amputation- Don't worry about ingrown nails. Neglected forms Sometimes a toe amputation in diabetes is ineffective.

Factors influencing amputation

First of all, it is important to understand what causes can lead to a person requiring such an extreme measure as amputation. The condition can occur in a perfectly healthy person leading an active lifestyle. Lower limb tissue death can be caused by:

• the development of tumors;
• serious infectious diseases;
• congenital defects;
• chronic ischemia;
• trauma to the leg;
• presence of thrombosis.

The lower limb must be removed if necessary to reduce the risk of spreading the infection throughout the body. Dead tissue cells pose a health risk because the breakdown of tissue can damage other parts of the body. This can be deadly.

signs

There are certain symptoms that indicate that a person is suffering from tissue necrosis. These are indications for surgical intervention.

• lack of sensation;
• formation of a hardening on the surface of the skin;
• mummification of the organ;
• absence of pulse in the popliteal region;
• the affected part does not respond to body temperature;
• severe pain in the leg.

Before the doctor prescribes an operation, the patient is referred for a comprehensive examination. This is used to confirm or refute the diagnosis.

Amputation-Related Operations

Not everyone who has suffered an amputation needs a prosthesis to replace the lost body part. To help you make this decision, we consider various aspects of your life and health, as well as the condition of your remaining limb. Prosthetic legs can help you regain your mobility. Prosthetic hands can be more complex, including newer, more modern models with technology that interacts with the nervous system and supports fine motor skills in the fingers.

Important factors are age, weight, physical fitness and general health before the amputation. An elderly or chronically ill patient may already be limited in mobility before the amputation. Heart disease can make it difficult to do the exercises required to use a prosthesis after a transfemoral amputation. Children with congenital loss of limbs or deformities often have enough strength and energy to cope very well with a child's prosthesis.

The decision to use and select a prosthesis requires experience and professional judgment. Our team will discuss the pros and cons with you so you can make the right decision and get back to an active life. Contact us for a consultation.

frequently asked Questions

When will I be able to walk with a prosthetic leg?

Most patients learn to walk completely independently within 4-5 months after being fitted with a leg prosthesis.

What will I be able to do with my prosthetic leg?

A prosthetic leg works just like a natural leg. With a prosthetic leg, you can walk, sit and stand without any problems.

How long does it take for my prosthetic leg to be made?

It will take approximately 1 week for your prosthesis to be made once the measurements have been taken.

Is there a guarantee and technical support from Luxmed?

The guarantee and technical support for your prosthetic leg made in our clinic is 5 years. During this time, you can contact us if you have any problems or questions.

• blunt.
• The reamputation is.
• acetabulum.
• Limb amputation.
• prosthetic legs.
• What to do with amputated limbs?.
• Indications for amputation.
• Leg prosthesis below the knee.