Management of Major Traumatic Upper Extremity Amputations.

Abstract

Traumatic upper extremity amputation is a life-altering event, and recovery of function depends on proper surgical management and postoperative rehabilitation. Many injuries require revision amputation and postoperative prosthesis fitting. Care should be taken to preserve maximal length of the limb and motion of the remaining joints. Skin grafting or free tissue transfer may be necessary for coverage to allow preservation of length. Early prosthetic fitting within 30 days of surgery should be performed so the amputee can start rehabilitation while the wound is healing and the stump is maturing. Multidisciplinary care is essential for the overall care of the patient following a traumatic amputation of the upper limb.

• Authors: Mark K Solarz, Joseph J Thoder, Saqib Rehman
• Journal: The Orthopedic clinics of North America (Orthop Clin North Am) Vol. 47 Issue 1 Pg. 127-36 (Jan 2016) ISSN: 1558-1373 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 26614927 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Topics

• Amputation, Traumatic (surgery)
• Arm Injuries (surgery)
• Hand Injuries (diagnostic imaging, surgery)
• Humans
• Humerus (injuries)
• Patient Care Team
• Physical Examination
• Postoperative Care
• Radiography
• Radius Fractures (diagnostic imaging, surgery)
• Replantation
• Shoulder Joint (surgery)
• Surgical Flaps
• Ulna Fractures (diagnostic imaging, surgery)
• Upper Extremity (injuries)