Limb salvage is typically the primary goal for patients with non-healing lower extremity wounds. However, in some cases, amputation might provide a more functional outcome. Understandably, patients may have strong feelings about keeping their limbs, even when the risk is life-threatening.
In this special report, four board-certified podiatric surgeons discuss how they decide whether to pursue limb salvage or amputation in patients with non-healing wounds in their lower extremities.
They also share key patient cases that shed new light on their clinical expectations, and significantly impacted how they approach this decision.
“Whether you’ve been practicing for one year, five years or 25 years, having this discussion with a patient is hard, and the decision never gets any easier,” says Dr. Brian Schmidt, DPM, a podiatrist and Assistant Professor at the University of Michigan Medical School. “It’s important to know that you’re not alone.”
In this special report, you’ll discover:
-
- Key factors podiatric surgeons consider when recommending limb salvage vs. amputation
- Specific cases that informed how podiatric surgeons approach this decision
- What single factor is largely steering this decision in 2022
Share details to read:
Limb salvage is typically the primary goal for patients with non-healing lower extremity wounds. However, in some cases, amputation might provide a more functional outcome. Understandably, patients may have strong feelings about keeping their limbs, even when the risk is life-threatening.
In this special report, four board-certified podiatric surgeons discuss how they decide whether to pursue limb salvage or amputation in patients with non-healing wounds in their lower extremities.
They also share key patient cases that shed new light on their clinical expectations, and significantly impacted how they approach this decision.
“Whether you’ve been practicing for one year, five years or 25 years, having this discussion with a patient is hard, and the decision never gets any easier,” says Dr. Brian Schmidt, DPM, a podiatrist and Assistant Professor at the University of Michigan Medical School. “It’s important to know that you’re not alone.”
In this special report, you’ll discover:
-
- Key factors podiatric surgeons consider when recommending limb salvage vs. amputation
- Specific cases that informed how podiatric surgeons approach this decision
- What single factor is largely steering this decision in 2022