<p>A tough topic, but next week I will be called upon to assist an elderly relative in an amputation decision. I would love to know if anyone has had to make this decision and what you learned, what you wish you’d known etc.</p>
<p>This is an 80+ year old woman with a serious stroke history. A bad fall 3 months ago caused a nasty ankle break in the ankle on the weak side.</p>
<p>She has already been primarily wheelchair bound, other than standing for a transition, for about 5 years. She has now had ankle surgery and has an open wound an inch or more in diameter with a wound vac.</p>
<p>They have discovered vascular shut down in an artery and are planning to clean that out, but apparently the subject of whether the foot is worth saving has arisen. She has had several surgeries on the foot over the years, but it is still pretty messed up- bunions, toes contracted despite tendon cutting, etc.</p>
<p>What are bad things that could arise from amputation that they should consider?</p>
<p>She is somewhat impaired mentally and her DH is exhausted and perhaps not in the best state of mind for making a huge decision.</p>
<p>Anything I should ask the physicians? Things to consider about either point?</p>
<p>Well, 2 things ring a bell for me: somewhat impaired mentally and pain…</p>
<p>My grandma had Alzheimers and had a blood clot that resulted in her needing to have her leg amputated. Mom could not stand to think she was in pain (Grandma was beyond speaking by that point.) But after the amputation, Grandma apparently suffered the “phantom pain” because she cried and rubbed at her leg a lot. She also had to be tied into bed because she tried to hop up and forgot that she didn’t have a leg to balance on. So it was very very sad. </p>
<p>Health wise, of course, the Dr. needs to have input, but keep in mind Dr.s by their nature and training want to “fix” every little thing. If there are other choices than amputation, I’d try them… </p>
<p>And my cousin broke his ankle and had 2 years of plates, lots of pain, lots of problems with screws/ infections/ healing … had his foot amputated and was “better” and walking … for 3 months, then died very suddenly of a stroke. He was not quite 60. No one knows if it was the problems from before or after the amputation that was the cause.</p>
<p>Bottom line im MY family (YMMV) is that amputations did not result in improved quality/quantity of life.</p>