Amputation Prevention

Amputation is the full or partial surgical removal of a body part, usually a limb (arm or leg). While some amputations are done to manage serious trauma, infection, or cancer that isn’t responding to conventional treatment strategies, most amputations are done to cope with vascular conditions that severely restrict blood flow to the lower limbs.

For patients with limb-threatening vascular conditions like advanced peripheral artery disease (PAD), severe diabetic foot ulcers, or limb-affecting ischemia, the vascular care experts at Advanced Vascular & Vein Associates do everything they can to try to prevent amputation and preserve limbs.

Amputation prevention — or limb preservation — happens on three levels:

Primary prevention

Primary prevention strategies offer the best long-term hope for avoiding the kind of severe circulatory problems that often lead to amputation. This means preventing the development of vascular-affecting conditions like diabetes and PAD whenever possible, and treating existing disorders early and aggressively to keep them in check.

Primary prevention strategies include:

• Eating a heart-healthy diet
• Getting plenty of exercise
• Reaching a healthy weight
• Quitting smoking

For people experiencing the early signs of diabetes or circulatory problems, controlling blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels can help keep vascular complications at bay.

Primary prevention efforts, such as basic foot care, proper footwear to prevent blisters, and regular foot exams by a podiatrist, are key for averting wounds.

Secondary prevention

When a patient develops a foot ulcer or wound, or when they show signs of progressing circulatory distress in their limbs, secondary prevention efforts are vital. These strategies focus on improving vascular function and circulation, and healing existing wounds as quickly as possible.

Comprehensive wound care aims to speed healing and reduce pain. It may include:

• Wound dressing changes; antibiotics
• Dead tissue removal (debridement)
• Skin grafts; hyperbaric oxygen therapy
• Bracing or shoes to help off-load pressure
• Physical therapy and nutrition therapy

Secondary prevention is a coordinated care effort carried out by a team of physician specialists that typically includes primary care doctors, podiatrists, and vascular surgeons. The team at Advanced Vascular & Vein Associates partners with the best doctors and nurse practitioners in the Central Mississippi region.

Tertiary prevention

The tertiary prevention level seeks to preserve a limb when the possibility of amputation is on the horizon. This level of care is for patients who have progressive worsening of their extremity wounds and circulation problems, either because they delayed earlier treatment, or because they have inherent health factors that elevate their risk of complications.

Whether the problem involves multiple wounds, slow-healing wounds, chronic infections, or chronic blood flow deficiencies, high-risk patients require an immediate evaluation by a team of vascular surgeons capable of aggressive interventions at the tertiary prevention level, such as revascularization.

Anyone who has diabetes or poor circulation can benefit from amputation prevention efforts. Limb preservation care is especially important for people who already experience foot pain or numbness and slow or non-healing wounds.

To learn more about the amputation prevention services at Advanced Vascular & Vein Associates, call the office or book an appointment online today.