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Traumatic amputation is the partial or complete removal of a body part outside a medical setting, often caused by accidents or violence. Proper safety measures can prevent it. There are different types of traumatic amputations, and after it occurs, steps must be taken to ensure the victim’s health and safety, including resuscitation, slowing down bleeding, and avoiding shock. The amputated part should be located and stored in cold water or ice, but reattachment is not always the best choice.
A traumatic amputation is an amputation — the partial or complete removal of a body part — that occurs outside a controlled medical setting. This type of amputation is often the result of an accident, such as a car accident or loss of control of a power tool. An amputation of this type can also be the result of a natural disaster or a violent act such as fighting on a battlefield. A traumatic amputation can become complicated by the presence of other factors such as severe bleeding or a person going into shock.
Sometimes called an accidental amputation, a traumatic amputation can occur in different ways and in different parts of a person’s body. This type of amputation is often caused by an accident, usually involving a vehicle or the use of electrical tools and equipment. Proper use of safety devices, such as seat belts in cars or safety shields on power hand saws, can help prevent accidents that could result in loss of a body part.
There are several types of trauma amputation that can occur, which are often divided into proximal or distant amputations. A proximal amputation is the disconnection of a body part that is close to the core of a person’s body, such as an arm amputation at the shoulder. Distant amputations occur with parts of the body that are farthest from a person’s core, such as the loss of a foot at the ankle or a toe.
An amputation can be partial, often called incomplete, or complete. Partial amputation means that the amputated body part is still connected to the body in some way, through muscle or other tissue. Full amputation means that the body part is completely separated from the body and is not connected in any way after the accident.
After a traumatic amputation occurs, a number of steps must be taken to ensure a person’s health and safety. The person should be resuscitated if necessary, and bleeding at the amputation site should be slowed down to avoid excessive blood loss; this can be done by elevating the amputation area to reduce bleeding. There is a very real risk of someone going into shock after a traumatic amputation, so care must be taken to avoid this by elevating a person’s legs if possible and covering them with a blanket.
An effort should be made to locate the amputated part, even if only after ensuring the victim’s well-being. The amputated body part should be placed in a bag and stored in cold water or ice to preserve the tissue; this can increase the chance of the part re-sticking. However, reattachment is not always the best choice and the use of a functional prosthesis may be preferable to reattachment of a non-functioning limb.
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