As a nurse life care planner, I have the privilege of working with many catastrophically injured patients.  One area of special interest I have is with those suffering from limb loss.  Having a family member who works in prosthetics probably helped to cultivate my interest, but it is inspiring to me when a patient suffering a limb loss overcomes great obstacles.

There are over 1.9 million Americans who live with limb loss or limb abnormality.  This does not begin to account for those living outside of the US that have been victims of war.

In the United States, over 185,000 amputations are performed each year.

The largest causes of amputation in the United States are:

• accidents
• diabetes
• heart disease
• cancer

If you or someone you know is suffering with limb loss, contact the National Limb Loss Information Center.  They will provide you with access to dozens of educational resources to assist you in finding the information you need.  This center is appropriate whether you are an amputee, a caregiver, a parent or even a prosthetist.  You can contact NLLIC toll free at 888-AMP-KNOW.

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