Amputation involves complete detachment of a part of, or an entire limb as a result of an injury of scheduled operation.

Depending on the kind of injury – replacement of the amputated part or limb can be relatively simple or entirely impossible. Amputations due to incised wounds – when the apexes of the amputated parts of limbs or entire limbs are level - yield the best effects after performing the re-plantation. Lacerated or avulsive (torn out) wounds result in damaging many structures of long lengths – skin, muscles, tendons, nerves, blood vessels, bones. Frequently, the extent of damage or crush of tissues makes suturing of the amputated limb impossible to perform.

Scheduled amputations are performed in cases of morbidly changed limb – neoplastic diseases, necroses – in order to save a patient’s life.

Complete
Amputations of the hand or an upper limb can be dangerous for your life.

• NEVER put a tourniquet above the damaged/injured place!
• Take all the structures found at the place of injury (fragments of bones, skin, tendons, fragments of fingers!!!) with you to the hospital.
• Put on an aseptic/clean dressing.
• Wrap tighter the bandage around the wound if necessary (e.g. intensive bleeding from the wound).
• Raise your limb, e.g. on a sling or raise it over your head.
• Take any jewellery off the injured limb, e.g. a wedding ring from your finger – when the swelling increases, the pressure may generate ischemia and necrosis of the finger.
• Secure fragments of the limb for the time of transportation to hospital – see HERE
• The stump of the amputated limb should be strongly bandaged up or compressed.
• Do not pour spirits or hydrogen peroxide solution over the wound.
• Raise your limb.

Incomplete
Extensive injuries of the hand or an upper limb can be dangerous for your life.

• NEVER put a tourniquet above the damaged/injured place!!!
• Take all the structures found at the place of injury (fragments of bones, skin, tendons, fragments of fingers!!!) with you to the hospital.
• Put on an aseptic/clean dressing.
• Wrap tighter the bandage around the wound if necessary (e.g. intensive bleeding from the wound).
• Raise your limb, e.g. on a sling or raise it over your head.
• Take any jewellery off the injured limb, e.g. a wedding ring from your finger – when the swelling increases, the pressure may generate ischemia and/or necrosis of the finger.

Transport of a part of the hand
Put the amputated fragments of the limb that you are able to collect (skin, bones, tendons, fragments of fingers) into a plastic bag. Place the tightly sealed bag in a pot filled with water and ice. Do not let the amputated fragments to have direct contact with ice. Write down the hour of the suffered injury and collecting the fragments of the hand.