Limb Loss

On this page

Basics

• Summary
• Start Here
• Prevention and Risk Factors

Learn More

• Living With
• Related Issues

See, Play and Learn

• No links available

Research

• Clinical Trials
• Journal Articles

Resources

• No links available

For You

• Older Adults
• Patient Handouts

Summary

People can lose all or part of an arm or leg for a number of reasons. Common ones include:

• Problems with blood circulation. These may be the result of atherosclerosis or diabetes. Severe cases may result in amputation.
• Injuries, including from traffic accidents and military combat
• Cancer
• Birth defects

Some amputees have phantom pain, which is the feeling of pain in the missing limb. Other physical problems include surgical complications and skin problems, if you wear an artificial limb. Many amputees use an artificial limb. Learning how to use it takes time. Physical therapy can help you adapt.

Recovery from the loss of a limb can be hard. Sadness, anger, and frustration are common. If you are having a tough time, talk to your doctor. Treatment with medicine or counseling can help.

Start Here

• Amputation: Prosthetic Hand and Fingers (American Society for Surgery of the Hand)
• Points to Know and Consider When Preparing for and Undergoing an Amputation (Amputee Coalition of America)

Prevention and Risk Factors

• Amputations (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) - PDF
• Diabetic Complications and Amputation Prevention (American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons) Also in Spanish

Living With

• Management of Residual Limb Pain (Amputee Coalition of America)
• When a Parent Loses a Limb: Helping Children Cope (Amputee Coalition of America) Also in Spanish

Related Issues

• Arm, Hand, and Finger Replantation (American Society for Surgery of the Hand)
• Importance of Gait Training (Amputee Coalition of America) - PDF
• Phantom Limb Pain (Cleveland Clinic Foundation)
• Residual Limb Pain (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
• Tips for Taking Care of Your Limb (Amputee Coalition of America)
• Wound Care: Preventing Infection (Amputee Coalition of America) Also in Spanish

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Amputation (National Institutes of Health)
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Amputation, Traumatic (National Institutes of Health)
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Amputees (National Institutes of Health)
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Artificial Limbs (National Institutes of Health)
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Phantom Limb (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: Rehabilitation professionals' perspectives of factors influencing return to occupation for people...
• Article: Gait Alteration in Individual with Limb Loss: The Role of Inertial...
• Article: Continuous relative phases of walking with an articulated passive ankle-foot prosthesis...
• Limb Loss -- see more articles

Older Adults

• Coping with Aging and Amputation (Amputee Coalition of America)

Patient Handouts

• Amputation - traumatic (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Foot amputation - discharge (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Leg amputation - discharge (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Leg or foot amputation (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Leg or foot amputation - dressing change (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Phantom limb pain (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish