Limb Loss
Limb loss is more common than you might think. Approximately 185,000 amputations occur in the United States each year and a staggering 3.6 million people will be living with limb loss—the surgical removal (amputation) of an arm or leg—by 2050.
Limb loss has three main causes, the most common of which is vascular disease, affecting 54% of this population. Vascular disease includes diabetes, peripheral arterial disease (PAD), and blood clots, all of which can result in poor blood flow to the limbs. This can cause pain, tissue damage, and wounds that don’t heal correctly, which over time, may lead to amputation. Black Americans are up to four times more likely to face amputation than white Americans because of an increased risk of diabetes and PAD.
Trauma is another common cause of limb loss. It is estimated to affect 45% of amputees and is the result of a traumatic accident or injury, including motor vehicle collisions, workplace incidents, sporting injuries, and military wounds to name a few.
The third most common cause of limb loss is cancer, which affects less than 2% of people who have undergone amputation.2 When tumors in the bone or cartilage do not respond to treatment, the limb may need to be removed.
Limb Difference: What You Need to Know
While limb loss is most often caused by external factors, many people are born with limb difference. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 1,900 babies in the U.S. are born with an upper or lower limb difference each year, with some babies experiencing both.
While the cause of congenital limb difference is unknown, researchers suspect some cases are brought about by a condition called amniotic band syndrome in which the amniotic fluid in the womb interferes with limb development.
Support Groups
https://www.facebook.com/groups/amputeegroupfb
https://www.facebook.com/groups/amputeesunite
