Limb Preservation

What is limb preservation?

If you’re facing amputation, limb preservation refers to treatments and services that help your arm or leg heal so you can avoid losing it. The goal of limb preservation is to encourage the healing of wounds or to treat underlying vascular conditions.

Of course, another priority of limb preservation is to keep the affected limb functional enough to use in your day-to-day life without causing additional complications. Palm Beach Heart & Vascular uses a team approach to keep you walking or maintaining the function of your arms.

Each limb preservation patient at Palm Beach Heart & Vascular receives an individualized treatment plan with consideration to their underlying diagnosis and the severity of their condition. 

Who can benefit from limb preservation?

Limb preservation is a service that can benefit you if you have a condition that leads to ulcers or wounds that are slow to heal in the limbs. These conditions often involve poor circulation and primarily affect your legs. 

You can develop ulcers on the feet or legs due to:

• Diabetes
• Ischemia (low blood supply)
• Deep vein thrombosis
• Peripheral artery disease

The majority of leg amputations are for individuals with diabetes, a disease that affects the metabolism and causes glucose (sugar) to elevate in your bloodstream. With too much sugar in the blood, you can develop nerve damage in the legs that prevents you from feeling tissue injuries in the lower limbs. 

What does limb preservation involve?

Your custom treatment plan involves steps that improve your circulation, promote wound healing, and prevent wounds from becoming infected. The experts at Palm Beach Heart & Vascular assess you with ultrasounds and other tests to measure circulation and to detect any structural problems that might impede healing. 

A typical limb preservation treatment plan includes options like:

• Wound debridement
• Antibiotics for infection
• Anti-inflammatory medications
• Hyperbaric oxygen therapy
• Negative pressure wound therapy
• Compression garments

If your ulcers are the results of an underlying disease like diabetes, managing your condition with the appropriate treatments can improve your limb preservation outcome. 

To schedule an appointment at Palm Beach Heart & Vascular and explore limb preservation treatments, call Palm Beach Heart & Vascular or book an appointment online today.