AMPUTATION OF ARM/DIGITS

The structure of the arm is very complex, having only a single bone, while the muscles are arranged around it, with the deep muscles supporting the branchii, the outside muscles extending along the hand dis-attached from the bone. Therefore, while an arm amputation is being done, care must be taken to ensure that the muscle in the remaining part of the arm is not scarred. In some cases, it becomes necessary to take off the entire limb itself from the deltoid muscles downwards.

Causes for amputation of arm or digits:

There may be different reasons for the amputation of the arm or the digits. The fingers may need to be taken off completely if a malignant tumour or an aggressive infection due to injury sets in. In cases where severe blood clots tighten the arm and tend to twist the nerves around, amputation of the arm becomes necessary to avoid the nervous system collapsing.

According to a survey, more than 70% of the upper arm amputations conducted are because of trauma. Tumours or undesirable growths can lead to a traumatic condition setting in, and the person may not be able to resist the symptoms. This will lead to the condition worsening, and hence to amputating the arm itself. The digits may need to be amputated if there is any indication that the sterile matrix in the fingers is less than 5mm, as this will cause nail adherence to reduce.

Types of arm/digit amputations:

• Amputation of the arm through the Middle Phalanx

• Proximal Phalanx amputation

• Wrist dislocation removal

• Amputation at the shoulder joint

• Amputation from the forearm

  
  

Procedure of amputation of the arm/digit:

The patient is made to sit on a chair or lay down on the edge of a bed, and a medical assistant holds out the arm horizontally. An instrument called a tourniquet is used, which is placed at the brachial artery. The integuments are then pulled up while the surgeon proceeds with the initial incision which is circular. The biceps are divided before any of the other muscles, and then retracted to the end of the arm, after which only the brachialis internus is cut off. The triceps are easier to cut out, with a single sweep of a knife with the edge facing upwards obliquely.

After the procedure:

Once the amputation is done, in most cases the patient opts for an artificial limb called as prosthesis. However, the most important post-surgery activity is to get the patient into rehabilitation. This is very essential because otherwise, the person may go into depression or may face a condition called the Phantom limb sensation, where they refuse to accept the fact that the arm has been cut off. Psychological traumas can be very dangerous to the person, because losing a limb is a very major occurrence in ones life.

The amputation procedure of an arm or a finger is probably the most difficult one because the upper limbs are the most important in our daily lives. Hence, doctors do their best when it comes to treating an infected arm and the amputation is done only as a final resort or if it is diagnosed to lead to further infections.