Forearm Amputation

Excerpt

Forearm amputations form a part of the larger umbrella of upper extremity amputations, but are the most common type, and can occur at different levels from elbow to wrist. The most common cause is trauma, infection, vascular disease, and malignancy. The mechanism of trauma in civilians is primarily industrial crush injuries and in the military both direct combat injury and indirect explosives.

Acceptance of prosthesis and performing a transradial amputation rather than more proximal, are crucial to improving outcomes. Also, multidisciplinary efforts can improve the outcomes, from proper and early prosthetic fitting to allow early return to activities of daily living (ADLs), to psychological therapy in helping to overcome the trauma, to physiotherapy and occupational therapy in adapting to life with a prosthesis.