Amputation Prevention

If left untreated, Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) can lead to end stage vascular complications. Over half of patients with peripheral artery disease have no symptoms such as leg pain. When a lack of blood flow in the legs or feet goes unnoticed or undiagnosed, wounds, sores, or ulcers may develop in the legs or feet which worsen over time and do not heal. When patients finally present they are often told a foot or leg amputation is their only option due to a lack of blood flow. Many of these patients are not given a second option with an amputation prevention specialist. This can be prevented by early detection of vascular disease known as Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD), it can be treated with minimally invasive vascular surgery procedures to restore blood flow to the legs and feet.  

Having a limb amputated is a major risk for increased mortality and severe reduction in quality of life. Vascular amputation prevention treatments at Palm Beach Heart & Vascular can help you avoid amputation and all of the complications that come with it. In Boynton Beach, Florida, Vascular Interventional Cardiologist Paul Michael, MD, takes a holistic approach to amputation prevention services. Call Palm Beach Heart & Vascular or book online today to schedule an appointment.

What is amputation prevention?

If you’re at risk of losing a leg because a vascular disease has led to ulcers or infection or losing a limb for any other reason, amputation prevention involves treatments to help you keep your arm or leg. Successful amputation prevention involves treatments for wounds and ulcers as well as the underlying conditions contributing to them.

Amputation prevention care at Palm Beach Heart & Vascular offers a personalized and comprehensive care plan according to the diagnosis, the conditon’s severity, and your general health. Your providers take a team approach to planning your treatment and rehabilitating the affected limb. 

Do I need amputation prevention services?

Many cardiovascular conditions can put you at risk of needing a leg amputation. The most prevalent cause is diabetic neuropathy, which often develops alongside venous insufficiency and other cardiovascular issues. 

With diabetic neuropathy, you lose feeling in your feet and legs. That is due to nerve damage because of too much glucose (sugar) in your blood. If you incur even a small injury on the foot, you might not notice it for weeks until it develops into a larger wound or ulcer. 

You can develop ulcers on the feet or legs because of conditions like ischemia (low blood supply), deep vein thrombosis, and peripheral artery disease. With these conditions, your legs lack sufficient blood flow, and wounds can turn into ulcers as a result. 

What should I expect from amputation prevention?

A multifaceted approach typically works best while undergoing amputation prevention treatment at Palm Beach Heart & Vascular. The team combines techniques that encourage healthy wound healing with treatments that stimulate blood flow, prevent infections, and address any underlying causes. To prevent amputation, your providers might recommend:

• Wound cleaning and debridement
• Antibiotics for infection
• Anti-inflammatory medications
• Hyperbaric oxygen therapy
• Negative pressure wound therapy
• Compression garments

Healing ulcers and restoring function to your leg may take some time, but with the support of your providers at Palm Beach Heart & Vascular, you can get the best possible outcome from your amputation prevention treatments. 

To schedule an appointment at Palm Beach Heart & Vascular for amputation prevention, call the office or book an appointment online today.