Amputations and loss of limb accidents refer to an injury where the indivudal loses a body part or organ.  These type of injuries usually occur as a result of a serious accident, but they can also occur as a result of negligence of another, such as a surgeon operating on the wrong body part. There are approximately 185,000 amputation related hospital discharges each year in the U.S. The number of new cases of limb loss is greatest among persons with diabetes, with 1 out of every 185 persons diagnosed undergoing amputation of a limb. See Statistitcs

Trauma is the leading cause of amputation throughout the world. But in the U.S., most amputated limbs are removed because of vascular disease, such as diabetes, hardened arteries, blood clots, or osteomyelitis (an infection in the bones). Eighty-two percent of the 185,000 amputations performed each year are due to a compromised system for carrying blood through the body. Insufficient blood supply to the extremities can lead to infection and ulcers, making amputation more likely.

According to Johns Hopkins University, there are 1.7 million Americans are living with an amputation, the vast majority having lost part of a leg. Most amputees are in their sixties or older and, if circulatory illness led to the amputation, are likely to experience other health problems.

Amputation is a radical procedure for the body. Several complications can arise:

• Bleeding
• Shock
• Infection

Most people who lose a limb experience a phenomenon known as phantom limb sensation.  Some individuals experience pain in thier lost limb. Even children born without a particular limb have described having sensation in that missing body part, leading experts to speculate that perception of extremities is “hard wired” in our brains. Many mechanisms may underlie phantom limb sensation or pain, but damaged nerve endings are one very likely cause.

Long-term outcomes for amputees have improved greatly in recent times, with better understanding of the management of traumatic amputation, early emergency and critical care management, new surgical techniques, early rehabilitation, and new prosthetic designs. Surgeries have become less radical in recent years. Where below-the-knee amputations were once common for diabetic people with infected foot ulcers, some patients now have the option of a more limited removal of only the front portion of the ulcerated foot.

Following accidental amputation, the severed part sometimes can be reattached, especially when proper care is taken of the injured limb and stump. New limb replantation techniques have been moderately successful, but incomplete nerve regeneration remains a major limiting factor. Often, the traumatic amputee will have a better outcome with a well-fitting, functional prosthesis than a nonfunctional replanted limb.

Prosthetic technology has advanced to a remarkable degree in the past two decades. Otherwise healthy people with mid-calf amputation can participate in a full range of normal activities and walk without any perceptible limp. The single most critical breakthrough is an improved connection between the socket of the prosthesis and the stump.

The loss of a limb can have a significant psychological and emotional effect on someone, not to mention the physical pain involved. Insurance companies, however, may resist compensating someone for pain and suffering beyond a certain amount. Here, quantifying the psychological impact of a lost limb is important when an amputation takes away a person's ability to do certain things. For example, if a person can no longer participate in sports, play an instrument, or act with independence, the amount of pain and suffering is significant. Our attorneys work with medical economists and psychologists in order to quantify the pain and suffering involved in an amputation.

The loss of a limb in a personal injury accident involves financial as well as emotional costs. When dealing with insurance companies in cases involving amputations, it's important to quantify medical costs, rehabilitation costs, medical equipment costs, and pain and suffering. At Ryan LLP, in order to ensure our clients recover compensation proportional to their injuries, our personal injury lawyers work closely with medical economists, vocational trainers, and prosthetics experts. We explain to jurors the scope and nature of your injuries, ensuring they understand the practical and emotional effects involved in the loss of a limb. Our attorneys humanize our clients and the pain they suffer in recovery from the loss of a hand, leg, arm, or foot.