Doctors in the United States perform more than 150,000 nontraumatic lower extremity amputations each year, according to the American Heart Association. Most of these devastating foot, ankle, and lower leg amputations occur among patients with diabetes, peripheral artery disease (PAD), and other serious health problems.
If you’re living with a medical condition that threatens the health of your lower limbs, proper at-home care, regular visits with an amputation prevention specialist, and prompt professional treatment for injuries, slow-healing ulcers, and other concerns are crucial.
Annapolis Foot & Ankle Center’s Chesapeake Amputation Prevention Center provides the highly focused, specialized care you need to avoid foot amputations, toe amputations, maintain mobility, and enjoy a longer, more active life. With locations in Annapolis, Stevensville, and Glen Burnie, we’re proud to be your Central Maryland center for excellence in wound care treatment and amputation prevention.
How Chronic Conditions Can Lead to Toe or Foot Amputations
Over time, chronic illnesses like diabetes and PAD can cause wide-ranging complications, weakening the immune system, damaging nerves in the lower extremities, and negatively affecting circulation. The result? If you develop a sore on your foot, nerve damage (neuropathy) may prevent you from noticing it right away, poor circulation can lengthen the time it takes the wound to heal; and weakened immunity increases the risk of infection and, ultimately, foot or toe amputation. Fortunately, even for patients with chronic conditions, amputation isn’t inevitable. Research shows that regular podiatry care and aggressive early intervention for injuries and other issues can prevent amputations in up to 85 percent of nontraumatic wounds.
Diabetic Foot Amputation
Those with diabetes are at a greater risk for wounds and foot amputations. If you have diabetes, be sure to visit your health care team, including your podiatrist, to prevent foot wound complications that lead to infection and amputation. Diabetic foot amputation specialists have advanced wound care options to ensure that the wound heals properly and patients can return to a great quality of life.
When to See a Maryland Amputation Prevention Specialist
Chesapeake Amputation Prevention Center’s board-certified podiatric surgeons provide comprehensive medical and surgical care for patients at risk for foot amputations. We offer a complete range of preventative therapies, advanced wound care services, and limb salvage surgical solutions.
Don’t wait until amputation is imminent to schedule an appointment. If you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes or another serious condition, the best time to see an amputation prevention specialist is before you’re facing the possible loss of a limb; the second-best time is at the first sign of a potential podiatric problem.
Take Advantage of World-Class Preventative Care
Our amputation prevention services help at-risk patients learn how to safely care for their feet and avoid lower limb loss. We offer expert guidance for performing daily foot self-exams, choosing the right footwear, using exercise to increase blood flow to the lower extremities, and resolving other common issues that could lead to amputation.
Visit Our Wound Specialists to Prevent Foot Amputation
When you have an elevated risk of foot or toe amputations, regular visits with an experienced podiatric surgeon are essential. At Annapolis Foot & Ankle Center and Chesapeake Amputation Prevention Center, our specially trained experts carefully and capably address blisters, corns, calluses, warts, cracked skin, ingrown toenails, and other issues that could invite infection. Our goal is to prevent amputations on the foot and toes and to keep you moving!
Advanced Wound Care Treatment For Foot Wounds, Foot Ulcers and Diabetic Ulcers
Without prompt professional treatment, even a small sore or foot ulcer can quickly become dangerous. Our advanced wound care services can help lower the risk of infection, minimize pain and discomfort, and speed up your body’s natural healing processes. Depending on your specific needs, our wound care treatment recommendations may include debridement, various dressings, synthetic skin substitutes, or amniotic tissue grafts.
Whether you're dealing with a diabetic ulcer or wound, a nonhealing wound, or an ulcer, our team can help prevent amputations. Our team is experts at wound treatment and amputation prevention in feet and toes.
Limb Salvage Surgery Providers Can Prevent Amputations
Our exceptional podiatric surgeons perform sophisticated limb salvage surgeries to help patients avoid amputation. Rather than amputating a foot, ankle, or lower leg weakened by the removal of diseased bone, muscle, or other tissue, Chesapeake Amputation Prevention Center reconstructs the limb using advanced surgical techniques. Wondering if limb salvage surgery is right for you? We can help you explore your treatment options.
