Amputation is the intentional surgical removal of a limb or body part. It is performed to remove diseased tissue or to relieve pain. Amputation is performed to remove tissue that no longer has an adequate blood supply; to remove malignant tumors; and because of severe trauma to the body part. About 65,000 amputations are performed in the United States each year. More than 90% of the amputations are due to circulatory complications of diabetes, and most of these operations involve the legs.

Amputations can be either planned or emergency procedures. Injury and arterial embolisms are the main reasons for emergency amputations. Amputations cannot be performed on patients with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, heart failure, or infection. Patients with blood clotting disorders are also not good candidates for amputation.

The operation is performed under regional or general anesthesia by a general or orthopedic surgeon in a hospital operating room. Details of the...