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 Terminology used by professionals in discussing amputation can be confusing for patients. This section will address some of the terms used in describing the anatomy of amputation.
Amputation can involve virtually any part of the body:
Upper extremity-arms, hands, and fingers
Lower extremities-legs, feet, and toes
Other-ears, nose, eyelids, genitalia
Upper limb amputations total more than 68% of amputations caused by trauma.
Bones of the Upper Limbs:
- Fingers (phalanges)
- Hand (metacarpals)
- Wrist (carpals)
- Forearm (radius and ulna)
- Upper arm (humerus)
- Shoulder blade (scapula)
- Collarbone (clavicle)
Bones of the Lower Limbs:
- Pelvis (pubis, ilium, and ischium)
- Upper leg (femur)
- Knee (patella)
- Lower leg (tibia and fibula)
- Foot (tarsals, metatarsals)
- Toes (phalanges)
Partial amputation- some structure, such as a muscle, ligament, or tendon is still intact between the body and the amputated part.
Complete amputation- there are no anatomical structures attaching the amputated part to the body.
Proximal amputation- involves a body part that is closely adhered to the body’s core (i.e. an arm at the shoulder joint)
Distal amputation- involves an amputated part that is away from the body’s core (i.e. a finger or toe).
BKA- below-the-knee amputation
AKA- above-the-knee amputation |
