Complications That May Follow an Amputation Injury
Amputation is one of the most traumatic injuries that can occur in the workplace. An employee may suffer this type of injury either when a limb is traumatically ripped from the body via heavy machinery or another force, or when significant damage to a limb requires surgical repair. At Pisegna & Zimmerman, we have helped many devastated amputation victims in Southern California get the compensation they deserve from their workplaces. Our commitment to clients shines through in our multilingual staff and our results.
Not only is the amputation itself a significant injury, this type of injury often comes with serious side effects and complications. Find out more about common amputation complications, and when you’re ready to discuss your amputation injury claim in greater detail, call Pisegna & Zimmerman at 818-888-8888.
Additional Surgical Work
A growing body of research indicates that many amputation injuries require more than one round of surgery. In one study that followed those who suffered lower limb amputations after a serious injury, over 41% required at least one revision amputation after the initial surgery. Every surgery comes with risks, especially those associated with anesthesia and infection.
Infection
Infection is an ever-present risk in amputation victims. Whether the amputation occurs during surgery or a victim just needs surgery to clean up the wound site, there is an enormous amount of exposed tissue during surgery. This dramatically drives up the likelihood of a systemic infection. Infection at the surgical site can lead to increased phantom limb pain, itching and discomfort, and a delay in getting fitted for prosthetics.
In some cases, infections affect more than the surface-level of skin. Deep infections can require wound debridement, vac therapy, and even revision surgery. Not only does this significantly increase a victim’s pain, but it also requires an additional hospital stay and drives up medical costs.
Skin Breakdown and Sores
The skin around an amputation site can be tender, thin, and weaker than other skin on the body. Victims are at an elevated risk of skin breakdown, making it harder for the body to fight off infection and leading to pressure sores. Since sensation in the area is often negatively impacted, victims may not know that the area is breaking down until a medical professional or caregiver checks on it.
Phantom Limb Pain
Phantom limb pain is perhaps one of the most well-known side effects of amputation. It’s the perception of pain in a limb that has been amputated. This is a separate sensation from actual residual limb pain, which is physical pain in the remaining part of the limb. Phantom limb pain can be difficult to treat, as it is partially physical in nature and partially psychological in nature. Even with multiple types of treatment, some victims experience ongoing phantom limb pain for years.
Negative Self-Image and Poor Mental Health
Beyond the physical effects of an amputation, the emotional and mental aspects can be just as serious. Those with amputation injuries often suffer serious issues with their self-confidence and self-image, especially as they learn to navigate life without their lost limb. Poor mental health may lead victims to self-isolate, further removing themselves from the support of the community.
PTSD
In some cases, general mental health struggles after an amputation do not heal or go away with time. Those most severely affected may develop post-traumatic stress disorder, particularly if their amputation occurred during a life-threatening event. Those with post-traumatic stress disorder often experience flashbacks, recurring nightmares, difficulty sleeping, unpredictable mood swings, withdrawal from loved ones, and intentional avoidance of things that remind them of their initial trauma. PTSD can be devastating for victims, often requiring them to completely change how they live, where they go, and what they do with their time. In-depth mental health treatment is generally required.
An amputation will change your life forever, possibly leaving you with physical and mental scars. It’s important to protect yourself after a workplace injury by pursuing workers’ compensation benefits.
Reach Out to the Worker’s Compensation Attorneys at Pisegna & Zimmerman to Discuss Your Workplace Injury
With a workers’ compensation attorney by your side, you can demand the workers’ compensation benefits you are entitled to under California state law. We’re ready to learn more about your injury, your employer’s response, and your next steps. Schedule your consultation now by calling us at 818-888-8888 or contacting our team online.
William Zimmerman is an experienced Los Angeles work injury attorney at Pisegna & Zimmerman. He offers invaluable advice and assistance when dealing with the often complicated workers’ compensation system. As part of Pisgena & Zimmerman, he and his team are a full-service law firm that is dedicated to obtaining the maximum amount of compensation from all available sources.