Many types of accidents can result in serious injuries. In some cases, a traumatic amputation is possible. Whether you are dealing with an amputated body part due to a car accident, malfunctioning farming equipment or some other accident, you have a long road to recovery ahead of you.
An amputation occurs when a part of the body, usually a limb or digit, is severed from the rest of the body. There are different types of amputations, but immediate medical care is vital in all of these cases.
The top priority
The top priority when a person suffers from a traumatic amputation doesn’t have anything to do with the severed body part. Instead, the focus has to be on making sure that the victim is stable and not going into shock. Controlling the bleeding is a priority because a person can easily bleed to death when there are arteries that were severed. In some cases, applying pressure is suitable. When this doesn’t work, a tourniquet might be necessary but this is a last resort measure for you to take.
Saving the severed body part
If the severed portion of the body is completely removed from the rest of the body, finding it should be done only after the person is stabilized. Once it is found, it should be placed in a damp, clean cloth and then placed in a zipper top bag. That bag should be placed in a bag of ice water if this is available. If there isn’t ice water or zipper top bags available, the body part should be kept as clean and cool as possible. Ideally, it should accompany the patient to the hospital after the injury occurs.
Immediate treatment
When the person gets to the emergency room, the doctors will make sure that the person is stable. They will also evaluate the victim to determine if the severed body part can be reattached. If this is possible, the person will be taken to surgery to make that happen. If not, the person will likely head to surgery to have the stump cleaned up and sutured closed.
No matter what the outcome of the amputation is, the victim will face a long road to recovery. This will almost certainly include doctor visits and physical therapy. It might also mean taking time off work and having to make adjustments to your social and family life while you work to recover and learn to live with the impacts of the injury.