Skip to main content

General Considerations on Upper Limb Amputation and Its Levels

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Bionic Limb Reconstruction

Abstract

Amputation describes the loss of a body part due to injury or disease, most commonly referring to the loss of a limb. Millions of people worldwide are currently living with amputation of the upper extremity [25]. Since trauma is the leading cause, especially young people are affected, often suffering from severe impairments of their working status and independence in daily life [11, 19]. Prosthetic replacement aims to restore the various functions of the lost hand—a task which becomes increasingly challenging with ascending level of limb loss.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Aszmann OC, Rab M, Kamolz L, Frey M. The anatomy of the pectoral nerves and their significance in brachial plexus reconstruction. J Hand Surg. 2000;25:942–7. https://doi.org/10.1053/jhsu.2000.17818.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Aszmann OC, Vujaklija I, Roche AD, Salminger S, Herceg M, Sturma A, Hruby LA, Pittermann A, Hofer C, Amsuess S, Farina D. Elective amputation and bionic substitution restore functional hand use after critical soft tissue injuries. Sci Rep. 2016;6 https://doi.org/10.1038/srep34960.

  3. Baccarani A, Follmar KE, De Santis G, Adani R, Pinelli M, Innocenti M, Baumeister S, von Gregory H, Germann G, Erdmann D, Levin LS. Free vascularized tissue transfer to preserve upper extremity amputation levels. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2007;120:971–81. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.prs.0000256479.54755.f6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Biddiss EA, Chau TT. Upper limb prosthesis use and abandonment: a survey of the last 25 years. Prosthetics Orthot Int. 2007;31:236–57. https://doi.org/10.1080/03093640600994581.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Dimas V, Kargel J, Bauer J, Chang P. Forequarter amputation for malignant tumours of the upper extremity: case report, techniques and indications. Can J Plast Surg J Can Chir Plast. 2007;15:83–5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Ephraim PL, Wegener ST, MacKenzie EJ, Dillingham TR, Pezzin LE. Phantom pain, residual limb pain, and back pain in amputees: results of a national survey. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2005;86:1910–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2005.03.031.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Inkellis E, Low EE, Langhammer C, Morshed S. Incidence and characterization of major upper-extremity amputations in the national trauma data bank. JBJS Open Access. 2018;3:e0038. https://doi.org/10.2106/JBJS.OA.17.00038.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  8. Kotsougiani D, Ringwald F, Hundepool CA, Neubrech F, Kremer T, Bickert B, Kneser U, Hirche C. Safety and suitability of finger replantations as a residency training procedure: a retrospective cohort study with analysis of the initial postoperative outcomes. Ann Plast Surg. 2017;78:431–5. https://doi.org/10.1097/SAP.0000000000000945.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Krueger CA, Wenke JC, Ficke JR. Ten years at war: comprehensive analysis of amputation trends. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2012;73:S438–44. https://doi.org/10.1097/TA.0b013e318275469c.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Luccia ND, Marino HLT. Case study: fitting of electronic elbow on an elbow disarticulated patient by means of a new surgical technique. Prosthetics Orthot Int. 2000;24:247–51. https://doi.org/10.1080/03093640008726556.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Luff R, Forrest J, Huntley J. The amputee statistical database for the United Kingdom; 2009.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Mattiassich G, Rittenschober F, Dorninger L, Rois J, Mittermayr R, Ortmaier R, Ponschab M, Katzensteiner K, Larcher L. Long-term outcome following upper extremity replantation after major traumatic amputation. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2017;18 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-017-1442-3.

  13. Ninkovic M, Voigt S, Dornseifer U, Lorenz S, Ninkovic M. Microsurgical advances in extremity salvage. Clin Plast Surg. 2012;39:491–505. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cps.2012.08.003.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Ă˜stlie K, Magnus P, Skjeldal OH, Garfelt B, Tambs K. Mental health and satisfaction with life among upper limb amputees: a Norwegian population-based survey comparing adult acquired major upper limb amputees with a control group. Disabil Rehabil. 2011;33:1594–607. https://doi.org/10.3109/09638288.2010.540293.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Ă˜stlie K, Skjeldal OH, Garfelt B, Magnus P. Adult acquired major upper limb amputation in Norway: prevalence, demographic features and amputation specific features. A population-based survey. Disabil Rehabil. 2011;33:1636–49. https://doi.org/10.3109/09638288.2010.541973.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Peng Y, Lahiri A. Spare-part surgery. Semin Plast Surg. 2013;27:190–7. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0033-1360586.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  17. Pet MA, Morrison SD, Mack JS, Sears ED, Wright T, Lussiez AD, Means KR, Higgins JP, Ko JH, Cederna PS, Kung TA. Comparison of patient-reported outcomes after traumatic upper extremity amputation: replantation versus prosthetic rehabilitation. Injury. 2016;47:2783–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.injury.2016.10.004.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Postema SG, Bongers RM, Brouwers MA, Burger H, Norling-Hermansson LM, Reneman MF, Dijkstra PU, van der Sluis CK. Upper limb absence: predictors of work participation and work productivity. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2016;97:892–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2015.12.022.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Salminger S, Roche AD, Hruby LA, Sturma A, Riedl O, Bergmeister KD, Aszmann OC. Prosthetic reconstruction to restore function in transcarpal amputees. J Plast Reconstr Aesthetic Surg. 2015; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bjps.2015.10.029.

  20. Tintle LSM, Baechler LMF, Nanos CGP, Forsberg LJA, Potter MBK. Traumatic and trauma-related amputations: Part II: upper extremity and future directions. J Bone Jt Surg Am. 2010;92:2934–45. https://doi.org/10.2106/JBJS.J.00258.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Weiss T, Miltner WH, Adler T, BrĂ¼ckner L, Taub E. Decrease in phantom limb pain associated with prosthesis-induced increased use of an amputation stump in humans. Neurosci Lett. 1999;272:131–4.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Windhager R, Millesi H, Kotz R. Resection-replantation for primary malignant tumours of the arm. An alternative to fore-quarter amputation. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1995;77:176–84.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Wright TW, Hagen AD, Wood MB. Prosthetic usage in major upper extremity amputations. J Hand Surg. 1995;20:619–22. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0363-5023(05)80278-3.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Zhu H, Bao B, Zheng X. A comparison of functional outcomes and therapeutic costs: single digit replantation versus revision amputation. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2017;141(2):244e–9e. https://doi.org/10.1097/PRS.0000000000004024.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Ziegler-Graham K, MacKenzie EJ, Ephraim PL, Travison TG, Brookmeyer R. Estimating the prevalence of limb loss in the United States: 2005 to 2050. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2008;89:422–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2007.11.005.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Clemens Gstoettner .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2021 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Gstoettner, C., Salminger, S., Aszmann, O.C. (2021). General Considerations on Upper Limb Amputation and Its Levels. In: Aszmann, O.C., Farina, D. (eds) Bionic Limb Reconstruction. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-60746-3_1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-60746-3_1

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-60745-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-60746-3

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics