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Surgical Amputation vs. Traumatic Amputation—What You Should Know

June 17, 2024 | Personal Injury

Amputation is a life-altering injury that can forever change the course of your career, the type of medical care you receive, and the activities you pursue. Whether your amputation is the result of physical trauma or surgical necessity, it can have a profound impact on your life. When you undergo amputation as a result of another person’s negligence, it’s important to advocate for yourself by contacting the team of personal injury lawyers at Pisegna & Zimmerman. With Zoom meetings and DocuSign document management, you can start your claim from the comfort of your Southern California home. Call our team of Santa Clarita personal injury lawyers at 818-888-8888 to set up a consultation now.

A number of medical diagnoses and accidents can ultimately lead to amputation. Amputation may be necessary due to blood vessel disease, various types of cancer, diabetes, or widespread infection. Amputation may be required after a serious car accident, a workplace accident, or an industrial accident. Depending on the reason for your amputation, you may be entitled to compensation.

Surgical Amputation

Surgical amputation makes up over half of all amputations. This includes all amputations resulting from medical diagnoses, such as cancer or diabetes. However, a number of accidents may also result in surgical amputation. Consider, for example, a motorcycle accident. The motorcyclist’s leg suffers severe road rash in the accident, and the injury rips down to the bone. The damage is so severe and extensive that systemic infection is a very real risk, and the motorcyclist is unlikely to regain feeling in the affected area due to the extent of the damage. The doctors would likely opt for surgical amputation to prevent systemic infection and save the rider’s life.

There are numerous benefits to surgical amputation. It is done in a controlled, sterile environment, and the doctors can do everything possible to save as much of the limb as possible. Should something go wrong during surgery, the victim is in a place where they can get the care they need.

Traumatic Amputation

Traumatic amputation accounts for just under half of all amputations. This type of limb loss occurs when the force of an accident or assault results in a limb being partially or completely ripped from the body. This is an emergency situation that often results in uncontrolled bleeding, the potential for serious infection, and other complications. In some cases, traumatic amputation may ultimately result in surgical amputation. For example, if a car accident pins a victim’s leg between two vehicles and rips it off below the knee, the damage may be uneven and messy. A surgeon may need to amputate above the site of the trauma to limit the damage, save nerve endings, and improve the look of the limb.

Note that the term “traumatic” in this context refers only to physical trauma, not mental trauma. Both surgical and traumatic amputation can cause significant mental and emotional trauma for victims, requiring extensive support and treatment.

Long-Term Concerns and Rehabilitation

Few injuries have as many long-term concerns and medical care needs as an amputation. First, amputation victims are often left with pain long after the limb in question has been removed. Phantom pain is incredibly difficult to treat since it is not rooted in pain in any actual body part.

Furthermore, victims often have to relearn how to do everything, from basic self-care tasks to tasks associated with work and taking care of their family. It takes months, and in some cases years, to regain the level of functionality that the victim had prior to their amputation.

You must also think of the mental and emotional aspects of healing from amputation. Even if victims regain full functionality and get a high-quality prosthetic, many fear going out in public and getting unwanted attention from people. This type of injury can lead to isolation and depression, particularly if the victim doesn’t already have a strong support network. For victims to have a fair shot at a full recovery, their mental health treatment should start from the very beginning of their road to recovery.

Legal Options for Victims

As you may imagine, the costs associated with amputation are incredibly high. If someone else is at fault for the accident that led to the amputation, it is crucial that victims seek legal help immediately. A fair settlement or court award may account for the victim’s current medical expenses, lost wages, future medical expenses, and other losses.

Explore Your Legal Options With Pisegna & Zimmerman Personal Injury Lawyers

If your life has been turned upside down by an amputation, it’s time to talk to a personal injury attorney at Pisegna & Zimmerman. We are here to help you seek justice. Schedule your Zoom meeting with us and find out how our DocuSign document handling can save you time and travel. Call us at 818-888-8888 or get in touch online to get started.