A central resource for individuals with congenital or aquired limb loss, their families, carers and healthcare professionals
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What is Amputation?

The action of cutting off by surgical operation a part of the body, esp. a limb or projecting part of the body.
(The Oxford English Dictionary)

Every year in the United Kingdom, there are approximately 6,000 new patient referrals to NHS prosthetic limb services prior to and following limb and digit amputation or congenital deficiency. Of these:

  • lower limb amputations account for over 90%, with upper limb amputations accounting for around 5% and congenital deficiency 3%
  • less than 0.5% of patients are referred with either cross-site amputation, triple amputation or both upper and lower limb amputation
  • the most common levels of lower limb amputation are trans-tibial (below knee) at 52% and trans-femoral (above knee) at 37%, with the most common causes being dysvascularity (70%), trauma (8%), infection (6%) and neoplasia (3%)
  • the most common levels of upper limb amputation are trans-humeral (above elbow) at 26% and trans-radial (below elbow) at 22%, with the most common causes being trauma (57%), dysvascularity (10%), neoplasia (9%) and infection (2%)
  • approximately one third of all new patient referrals are female
  • approximately 2% of males and 4% of females are aged less than 16 and approximately 52% of males and 62% of females are aged 65 or over at the time of referral
  • there are probably many more patients that are not referred for either advice or assessment

(Information collated from the Amputee Statistical Database for the United Kingdom 2002/03 For more information click here)

The majority of leg amputations are performed due to the effects of blood vessel disease, such as hardening of the arteries, poor artery circulation or a large clot in the artery which cannot be removed. Less common reasons include cancer, severe injury or infection, and congenital deformities. Amputation is always a last resort and will only be recommended if it does not look possible to improve the circulation in any other way.

Arm amputations are much less common and are usually needed because of extensive injury or congenital deficiencies.