Types of Limb Loss

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Chopart Amputation: "a disarticulation at the midtarsal joint of the foot, leaving a stump that is able to withstand weight bearing without a prosthesis. Similar to a Syme’s amputation."

Disarticulation: "an amputation of a limb through a joint, without cutting any bone – performed at the hip, knee, ankle, shoulder, elbow, and wrist levels."

Forequarter Amputation: "an amputation of the arm, shoulder, clavicle, and scapula"

HP (Hemipelvectomy): "similar in scope to the hip disarticulation, the HP also removes approximately half of the pelvis"

Partial Foot Amputation: "an amputation at the metatarsal section of the foot. This type of amputation is similar in scope to the Chopart amputation."

Symes Amputation: "an amputation through the ankle joint that retains the fatty heel pad portion and is intended to provide end weight bearing"

Transmetatarsal Amputation: "an amputation through the metatarsal section of the foot bone (see partial foot amputation)"

Van Ness Rotationplasty: "In this kind of reconstruction, the ankle joint is used as a substitute for the knee. By removing a portion of the femur and knee joint and bringing the ankle up to the level of the original knee, turning it 180 degrees, reattaching it to the femur and adjusting the thigh to appropriate length, a functional knee joint (formerly the ankle joint) can be achieved. The foot is then fit into a prosthetic socket and the person in question, who would otherwise require an AK amputation, functions as a BK amputee—a preferable level when considering ambulatory rehabilitation."

(Amputee Coalition, 2008)

Acquired Amputation: "the surgical removal of a limb(s) due to complications associated with disease or trauma"

Amelia: "medical term for the congenital absence or partial absence of one or more limbs at birth. Amelia can sometimes be caused by environmental or genetic factors."

Congenital Anomaly: "a birth malformation such as an absent or poorly developed limb (see amelia and phocomelia)"

Diabetic Amputation: "an amputation caused by complications associated with diabetes. Causes can include neuropathy, ulcers, and foot disorders. This is an acquired amputation."

Dysvascular Amputation: "the word is used to denote amputations that are caused or acquired from poor vascular status of a limb (i.e., ischemia)."

Phocomelia: "medical term for a congenital anomaly in which one or more limbs are missing, with the hand and/or foot attached directly to the trunk of the body"

Vascular Amputation: "an amputation caused by lack of blood flow to a limb or limbs (ischemia). Causes include arterial and venous catherization, heart defects and disease, diabetes, familial coagulation defects, arterial anomalies, pressure, septic emboli, and mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome. This is an acquired amputation."

(Amputee Coalition, 2008)