Amputation is the process of removal of a body extremity or limbs either through trauma or surgery. A surgical amputation is done to prevent the growth of a fatal infection like gangrene or a malignant tumor throughout the body.

The different types of amputations are as follows:

• Amputation of the legs
• Amputation of fingers or toes
• Partial foot amputation
• Amputation below or above the knee
• Ankle disarticulation
• Hip disarticulation
• Amputation of the arms
• Amputation of forearm
• Metacarpal amputation
• Wrist disarticulation
• Elbow disarticulation
• Above elbow disarticulation
• Shoulder disarticulation
• Forequarter amputation

The surgical amputation begins with the ligation of the blood supplying artery and vein, using a tourniquet to avoid hemorrhage. It is not needed in vascular surgery as the limb becomes under-pefused due the arterial disease. Then the muscles are cut transversely and the bone is cut through with the help of an oscillating saw. The rough and sharp ends of the bones are filed over. Transposing the flaps of skin and muscles over the stump enables the attachment of a prosthetic. In cases of gangrene infection, the stump is open to let the infection heal.

Hemicorporectomy, which is the amputation below the waist, is known to be the most radical type of amputation as genital modification and mutilation quite often entail amputating the tissue. To retain the function of the joints, amputation is preferred via bone diaphysis. However, disarticulation is preferred in oncological surgery.

Some people who have been amputated, experience phantom limbs, in which they can feel the body part that has been amputated. They can feel their limbs, have an urgency to scratch them and also feel the pain. According to some scientists, it is due to the brain that has some kind of a neural map that does not change immediately after the amputation.

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