Can we end amputee disability in 2018?

We’re continuously inspired by the many people we work with who have suffered catastrophic injuries or medical conditions that resulted in amputation. So much so that in 2017 we co-hosted the Back to the Future Rehabilitation Conference.

It is part of our ongoing commitment to raising awareness of the challenges faced by amputees. Throughout the next eight weeks, we’re going to share some of our insights and explore the topic of disability amongst amputees, in particular, whether we can end amputee disability in line with the rapid advancement of prosthetic technology.

Reasons for amputation

Most commonly, an amputation refers to the surgical removal of a part of the body such as an arm or leg but, sometimes, body parts such as the nose or fingers can be amputated.

Some of the most common reasons for amputation are:

• Trauma - amputation may be necessary to save a patient's life after a serious accident, where keeping the limb would be dangerous to their health.
• Medical illness - limbs are sometimes amputated after a person sustains an illness that directly affects their limb. For instance, deep vein thrombosis (DVT) can cut off the blood supply to your leg, resulting in an amputation.
• Preventative measures - amputations can be carried out to prevent serious medical conditions. For example, women at risk of breast cancer sometimes consider a mastectomy to reduce their chances of developing the condition.
• Congenital disorder - infants born with malformed limbs may undergo amputations to prevent problems later on in life.

Amputee disability

The challenges that come with losing a limb are much further reaching than the restricted, or complete lack of, use of that particular limb.

New amputees are forced to consider changing huge aspects of their life, be it related to work or home, which can have a negative emotional impact on them.

They may not be able to travel as freely, partake in their hobbies or independently carry out small daily tasks - leading them to sometimes be classed as disabled.

Despite this, prosthesis development has soared in recent years, creating many more opportunities for those who have lost limbs to live a full life - so why aren’t we ending amputee disability?

Share your thoughts

From the experienced we’ve gained working with a number of amputees, we’ve developed a strong understanding of amputees and prosthetics, but we’re keen to hear your views and thoughts on the topic, so we’ve launched a survey to do just that.

Please take five minutes to complete our survey and you’ll be in with a chance of winning a £50 Amazon voucher.

Make sure you keep an eye on the blog and our social media channels to find out more about amputee disability over the coming weeks!