Limb Salvage

The physicians and surgeons at UT Southwestern Medical Center strive to salvage (“save”) – and preserve the function of – the limbs of people who have experienced trauma or who suffer from diabetes complications.

Our highly trained, compassionate doctors use advanced therapies and techniques to avoid amputation whenever possible. In cases where amputations must be performed, we comprehensively support patients throughout their recovery and rehabilitation.

Experts in Limb-Sparing Techniques

Traumatic injuries and diabetic foot disease are some of the things that can put people at risk of losing their arms, legs, feet, hands, fingers, and toes – either completely or partially.

UT Southwestern’s multidisciplinary team of skilled specialists uses advanced therapies and limb-sparing surgical techniques to avoid amputation and preserve function whenever they can. Our team includes experts from specialties such as:

• Foot and ankle surgery: Perform surgery to remove infection, and reconstruct lower extremity deformities.
  
• Vascular surgery: Help restore blood flow to wounds and surgical sites to promote healing.
  
• Infectious diseases: Deliver and manage antibiotic treatment for diabetic foot infections.
  
• Internal medicine: Non-surgically manage patients’ other medical conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, and kidney disease.
  
• Endocrinology: Help patients better control their blood glucose levels to optimize healing.
  
• Emergency medicine: Evaluate patients who come to the Emergency Department with foot problems.
  
• Plastic surgery: Perform specialized procedures for complex and/or large wounds and tissue defects.
  
• Physical and occupational therapy: Help post-surgical patients restore as much function as possible and teach them how to perform their activities of daily living.
  

UT Southwestern also offers a dedicated Diabetic Limb Salvage Service.

Treatment

UT Southwestern physicians and surgeons do all they can – both non-surgically and surgically – to save patients’ limbs whenever it is possible to safely do so.

Surgical Treatments

UT Southwestern surgeons offer a number of procedures that can help salvage limbs. These include:

• Removal of damaged tissue (debridement) from wounds, infections, and ulcers
  
• Incision and drainage of infections
  
• Reconstruction
  
• Injury repair
  

In cases of severe infection or gangrene that cannot be effectively treated or that endangers patients’ lives, our surgeons also perform amputations. We work closely with our prosthetics and orthotics, and rehabilitation specialists throughout these patients’ recovery.