why does amputation require surgery instead of hacking the hand off and fixing from there?

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There’s not really a not dense way to ask this so apologies for the bluntness. When someone has a limb amputated, it’s a long, arduous surgery. But when people are in accidents and lose a limb and live, I’m assuming they have some kind of surgery to fix the damaged tissue? Is the intentional amputation safer? Quicker? More cost effective?

Thanks in advance!

In: Biology

5 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

Surgery is a much more controlled process than hacking off a limb. Doctors have precise control over where the cut is made, and what muscles/blood vessels/nerve endings/bones are preserved. Not only does this dramatically reduce the risk of the patient bleeding out vs blunt amputation, but it effects what prosthetic options a patient has post amputation.

The added risk and potential loss of function aren’t worth any time saving benefits. Time is cheap, loss of life/function is forever.

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