Psychological effects of amputation: A review of studies from India

Abstract

Amputation is a major health burden on the families, society, and on medical services as well. Traumatic limb amputation is a catastrophic injury and an irreversible act which is sudden and emotionally devastating for the victims. In addition, it causes inability to support self and the family and driving many patients toward various psychiatric disorders. Extensive information regarding the effects of amputation has not been ascertained and therefore it was decided to do a systematic review. The goal of this review was to provide comprehensive information of peer-reviewed papers examining the psychological distress among amputees in India. A search of the literature resulted in a total of 12 articles with varied sample size from 16 to 190. The sample has been largely comprised males with lower limb amputation caused by primarily traumatic ones, i.e., motor vehicle accident, railway track accidents, machinery injury, blasts, etc., The prevalence of psychiatric disorders among amputees has been found to be in the range of 32% to 84% including depression rates 10.4%–63%, posttraumatic stress disorder 3.3%–56.3%, and phantom limb phenomenon 14%–92%. Although the studies reported that symptoms of anxiety and depression become better over the course of time, however surgical treatment providers need to liaise with psychiatrists and psychologists to support and deal with the psychological disturbances.

A study of psychiatric comorbidity after traumatic limb amputation: A neglected entity

“…Limb loss due to a traumatic injury is sudden and emotionally devastating. The loss of the limb may cause distress in amputees not only due to the loss of a body part but also due to the role limitation and the need for adjustment to the changed lifestyle options[ 1 ] Many researchers highlighted that traumatic loss of a limb is typically equated with loss of spouse,[ 2 ] loss of one's perception of wholeness,[ 3 ] symbolic castration, and even death. [ 4 5 ] This may result in the patient being severely affected emotionally and resulting in a poor quality of life.…”

Sociodemographic Determinants for the Health-Related Quality of Life of Patients with Vascular Amputations as Determined with the Prosthesis Evaluation Questionnaire

“…In relation to grief, we highlight the need shown by patients to favor their psychosocial adjustment [26] and not to enter into dysfunctional griefs; that adjustment is impaired because, in reality, amputation has been a choice of curative treatment, and the individual must overcome the paradox that a curative treatment causes a deficiency, dependency, or severe adjustment problems to become independent again. This fact is minimized in vascular amputees, since they are convinced that amputation will improve their quality of life, and recognize the negative consequences of non-amputation.…”

“…In the same way, we raise it in terms of the dimension of frustration in both sexes. These psychological needs are well documented, both professionally by the health team [25] and through mutual help groups, since the appearance of psychiatric disorders are frequent, such as dysfunctional grief, anxiety and depression, among others [26,27], responsible for the deterioration of the quality of life.…”

Manufacturing of personalized prosthetic leg using solid modeling and 3d printing

“…The mortality rate due to gangrene is 25% [1]. Amputees, due to the amputation of major limbs significantly suffer and feel impaired at several fronts such as routine physical activities, normal body function, correct body posture and hindrances in participation for various other activities [2]. Several common issues faced by disabled people due to prosthetics are such as-poor body balance, lack of stability of prosthetic, skin irritation at the place of stamp, less mobility, fatigue and improper alignment of socket [3].…”