Limb Loss Awareness Month brings attention to the growing number of individuals living with lower extremity amputations and the importance of raising awareness for loss prevention options. While some limb amputations are unavoidable and a result of a traumatic injury, 54% of the estimated 1.6 million Americans with amputated limbs suffered the loss due to vascular conditions. Each year, in fact, approximately 200,000 non-traumatic amputations occur as a result of peripheral artery disease or diabetes. Early detection and timely treatment addressing these vascular diseases are key to preventing limb amputation.
What’s the Connection Between Vascular Disease and Limb Loss?
Peripheral artery disease is a disease affecting your vascular system. It occurs when arteries become blocked and weakened by the buildup of plaque in the interior vessel walls. This vessel narrowing results in decreased blood flow to the legs and feet eventually starving the limbs of oxygen and valuable nutrients. If left untreated, PAD can lead to non-healing foot ulcers, recurring wounds on an individual’s legs and eventually critical limb ischemia (CLI) or tissue damage so severe that foot or leg amputation is required. Critical limb ischemia will not improve on its own and medical intervention is required.
For example, in 2015, 75% of all adult hospitalizations for nontraumatic lower extremity amputation were diabetes related.1 It is through peripheral arterial disease (PAD) that people with diabetes lose circulation to the foot and toes, leading to amputation. Thus, physicians should be concerned that an analysis of Medicare data from 2016 to 2019 showed that about 69% of Medicare patients who ultimately underwent major amputation with a diagnosis of chronic limb-threatening ischemia had received no attempt at revascularization prior to amputation.2
Only a trained healthcare professional can diagnose PAD so be sure to mention any symptoms you are experiencing for early detection and evaluation. Eighty-five percent of limb amputations are preceded by foot ulcers and The Amputee Coalition estimates that 60% of vascular-related amputations are preventable.3 Initial treatment options for PAD can include lifestyle changes, prescription medications or minimally invasive vascular procedures to restore adequate blood flow to the limbs.
Peripheral artery disease symptoms
- These symptoms are most common in those with peripheral artery disease
- Leg weakness or numbness
- Foot sores that won’t heal
- Claudication (leg pain)
- Discoloration of the skin in the foot
- Slower growth of hair or nails on feet and legs
- Reduced pulse in legs or feet
What are the risk factors for peripheral artery disease?
Common risk factors of peripheral artery disease include:
- Diabetes
- Having any wounds or ulcers on the foot or leg
- Having a history of smoking
- Having a history of hypertension
- Feeling resting leg or foot pain
- One foot feeling colder than the other
- Neuropathy
- High cholesterol
- History of a heart attack or stent
- Being over the age of 65
Do you believe that you may be at risk for Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)? Schedule a comprehensive evaluation with Precision Vascular Kentucky.
REFERENCES
- Geiss LS, Li Y, Hora I, Albright A, Rolka D, Gregg EW. Resurgence of diabetes-related nontraumatic lower-extremity amputation in the young and middle-aged adult U.S. population. Diabetes Care. 2019;42(1):50-54. doi:10.2337/
dc18-1380 - Secemsky EA. (2021, October 5). Real-world evaluation of disparities in critical limb ischemia management associated with major limb amputation [Conference presentation abstract]. First Round of Late-Breaking Clinical Trial Results Announced at VIVA21, Las Vegas, NV. https://viva-foundation.org/news-article?id=142509
- April is Limb Loss Awareness Month. https://www.amputee-coalition.org/limb-loss-resource/resources-filtered/resources-by-topic/limb-loss-