What Are the Complications of Amputation?
09/21/2006 |
Question:
Can you please tell me what the complications are with a right leg amputation? Also, what is the death rate if an amputation goes wrong?
Answer:
Any amputation carries potential risks for infection, bleeding, and death in the short term. Longer term complications include non-healing wounds, phantom pain syndrome, neuroma formation, and death.
The risk of death soon after an amputation is approximately 5-15% depending on the level of amputation, with the higher rates occurring after an above-knee amputation. The risk of death long term is approximately 50% at 3 years due to other medical conditions that a patient already has.
For more information:
Go to the Amputation health topic.