About This Treatment
Limb preservation is basically just treatment to avoid amputation of a finger, foot, arm or other limb. Limb preservation services at Franciscan Health involve
vascular surgery,
internal medicine,
cardiology,
nephrology,
podiatry and
wound care specialists. This multidisciplinary approach to offers the best chance for success, using both interventional and non-interventional techniques to induce healing, decrease pain and avert amputation.
It can be distressing to learn that you could lose your arm or leg due to infection or low blood flow caused by medical conditions such as diabetes or peripheral artery disease. For instance diabetes can lead to chronic foot wounds, also called diabetic foot. Conditions like this can lead to a need to amputate all or part of the limb. However, advances in limb preservation techniques might allow you to keep your limb.
To prevent a need for amputation of a limb, you may see a variety of specialists to comprehensively address each aspect that can impact limb preservation. Limb preservation services at Franciscan Health could include things like:
- Specialized wound care treatment, like hyperbaric oxygen therapy
- Lab work and test (such as vascular labs or screens)
- Cardiac and pulmonary care
- Advanced surgical reconstructions
- Guidance on diet or activity changes that can help reduce your risk
- Podiatry specialists
- Infectious disease specialists
- Nephrology specialists
