Upper Limb Amputations
General Principles
All possible length should be preserved consistent with clinical judgement
- function of amputated stumps decrease progressively with each higher level of amputation
- prosthetic rejection by patient increases with the more proximal amputations
- most ADL'S can be performed adequately with one limb, so don't use prosthesis
- all nerves are drawn distally into wound & sectioned so they retract well proximally to bone level of amputation