Amputation is a loss of absence of all or part of a limb. Amputations can be caused by complications from medical issues; for example: Diabetes. Traumatic amputations occur as a result of some type of accidental injury, trauma, or work place accidents.
2. How many people living in the United States with limb loss?
Approximately 2 million amputees live in the United States. That number is expected to increase significantly over the next 20-30 years.
3. What is the leading cause of amputations?
Traumatic amputations may involve any part of the body or extremity, including arms, hands, fingers, legs, feet, toes, ears, etc. Vascular disease, including diabetes and artery disease are the most common type of amputations. Traumatic amputation injuries are caused by the following:
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Vehicle rollover accidents
- Bicycles, motorcycles, trains.
- Electrocution accidents
- Lawn mowers
- Construction accidents
- Work place accidents
- Power tool and machinery accidents
- Recreational injuries
- Explosions/fireworks
- Defective products (product liability)
- Medical negligence (medical malpractice)
- Crush injuries
- Agricultural/farm accidents
4. What is the most common type of amputations?
The most common type of amputations are:
- Below Knee amputation constitute 60-70% of all amputations.
- 70% of all traumatic amputations involve the upper limbs.
- The most common traumatic amputation is partial hand amputation.
- The second most common traumatic amputation is the loss of one arm.
- 45% of amputations is from a trauma, such as construction accidents.
- The ratio of upper limb to lower limb amputations is 1:4
5. How many amputations occur each year?
It is estimated that 185,000 amputations occur in the United States annually.
6. How many amputation injuries each year?
It is estimated that 80,000 – 100,000 amputation injuries occur every year in the United States.
7. What is one of the leading causes of traumatic amputations in children?
Lawn mowers
8. How often does an amputation occur in a work place accident occur in the United States?
In 2015, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration report indicated that there were 10,388 severe injuries caused by work place accidents. These resulted in 2,644 amputations. The highest place of work place accidents are construction, transportation, warehousing, and oil and gas extraction.
9. If I have a work place accident that results in an amputation, am I entitled to a Specific Loss Benefits?
Yes, Specific Loss Benefits (SLB) are paid when an employee suffers an amputation or the complete loss of use of a body part while at work. Depending on the state, an employee may be entitled to the Specific Loss Benefit if they have an injury to any of the following body parts: Arm, leg, hand, foot, face, toe, eye, ear, finger, etc. Permanent injury to a body part may include fractures, burns, crush injuries, and severe nerve damage. The amount of money that you receive for a specific loss benefit varies from state to state.
10. How much does an amputation cost?
The estimates for the cost of care after an amputation vary greatly depending upon many factors such as: Is the amputation a lower limb amputation, an upper extremity amputation, amputation on only a single digit on the hand, or an entire hand, etc. In determining how much an amputation costs the following must be taken into consideration: Acute care hospitalization, inpatient rehabilitation hospitalization, outpatient rehabilitation and therapy costs, cost of the prosthetic device and lifetime replacement costs. What type of prosthetic device? Is it a state of the art advanced prosthetic device? To determine a fair estimate of what the lifetime cost will be regarding your prosthetic needs, it is best to consult with a prosthetist, case manager or life care planner.
11. What costs can I recover after an amputation if I am pursuing a lawsuit?
- Cost of the prosthetic device.
- Replacement for prosthetic device.
- Acute care hospitalizations.
- Rehabilitation care
- Cost for the surgeon who performed the amputation.
- Inpatient and outpatient therapies
- Loss wages.
- Lost earning capacity.
- Past and future pain and suffering.
- Loss of life’s pleasures
- Loss of intimacy with spouse.
- Disfigurement