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War Related Illness and Injury Study Center

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Traumatic Amputations

Traumatic Amputations

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Some Veterans who are deployed to areas of combat may experience traumatic injuries that result in amputations. Amputation is defined as the removal of a body extremity by trauma or surgery.

Amputations often occur when a limb or part of a limb threatens one's health, and as a result, the limb or part of the limb is surgically removed.Some residual problems related to amputations include:

  • Phantom pain (a feeling of pain in the missing limb)
  • Surgical complications
  • Skin problems
  • Heterotopic ossification which can occur when overgrowth of bone occurs instead of scar tissue formation
  • Grief

 

There are many effective treatments for these health problems including:

  • Medications
  • Protective dressings
  • Therapies
  • Health education

 

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