Every year, 185,000 Americans undergo amputations, and 97 percent of those are lower limb. The most common cause for amputation is diabetes.
Yet early identification and treatment of limb wounds can decrease the risk of amputation.
Our new Advanced Limb Preservation Program aims to prevent amputations in patients with diabetes, peripheral artery disease, and other vascular problems.
Launched in October, the Advanced Limb Preservation Program takes a multidisciplinary approach to healing wounds. The team collaborates on patient care, and puts a special focus on providing education and support to patients.
The program involves various specialties including vascular, podiatry, infectious disease, cardiology, endocrinology, primary care, internal medicine, wound care, and lymphedema management.
If you have a wound or infection that has not healed in three weeks, you may have impaired blood flow which can lead to serious complications.
For more information on the Advanced Limb Preservation program, call our program coordinator, Deidre Dennison, BSN, RN, at 518-525-8220, or visit www.sphp.com/limb.
To view an educational video on limb preservation, click here.
