For approximately 185,000 people each year, an amputation will result in the permanent loss of a limb. If you’ve suffered an amputation due to an accident, the Montana amputation injury attorneys of Kovacich Snipes Johnson, P.C. will fight every step of the way to see you get the justice you deserve. For over 30 years, we’ve helped clients in Great Falls and all throughout Montana through some of the worst injuries to get the care they deserve.
When Are Amputations Necessary?
The decision to amputate a limb or member of the body is a serious one not performed by medical personnel unless it is imperative for the patient’s health. In such cases, the removal is permanent, and the patient may experience difficulties relating to the amputation for the rest of his or her life.Infection
One of the most common reasons to amputate a limb is to prevent infection from affecting the rest of the body. This may often be the case when the patient has sustained a significant injury. Car accidents, accidents at the workplace, and unexpected serious personal injuries may cause damage that medical treatment cannot repair. When infection sets in, the doctors may need to amputate the limb to avoid life-threatening infection from reaching major organs.Diabetes
The effects of diabetes are another common cause of amputations. Diabetes patients may suffer from poor circulation. As the blood flow decreases to the affected part of the body, the cells cannot get the nutrients they need to survive. As a result, amputation may be necessary to prevent the rot from spreading.What Are Some Common Causes of Amputations?
Frostbite stops the circulation in a limb and begins the process of rotting the tissue of the affected area. In some cases, a cancerous tumor may be growing in a limb requiring amputation to stop cancer’s growth. Crush injuries, common in industrial and construction settings, are also a common cause of amputation.What Are The Different Types of Amputations?
Doctors segregate amputations by what part of the body part and how much of the limb they must amputate.Examples of Types of Amputations Include:
- Partial foot amputations
- Amputation at the ankle
- Amputations below the knee
- Amputations above the knee up to the hip
- Amputation of fingers or parts of the hand
- Removal of the hand below the wrist
- Amputation below the elbow
- Amputation above the elbow up to the shoulder