Limb Salvage

Every year, 185,000 people in the United States need an amputation, with more than half reaching that stage as a result of vascular disease. Enrique Hernandez, MD, at Advanced Vascular Cardiac & Veins in Miami, Florida, has extensive experience and skill in limb salvage techniques to prevent amputation. He offers a range of treatments, including minimally invasive procedures to restore circulation to your leg and foot. To learn more about limb salvage treatments, call the office or request an appointment online today.

What is limb salvage?

Limb salvage involves multiple treatments to repair vascular conditions and prevent amputation. Advanced Vascular Cardiac & Veins may be able to preserve limbs even when other physicians suggest your condition is untreatable.

What conditions may need limb salvage?

Some conditions that disrupt blood flow can cause foot wounds (diabetic ulcers) and leg ulcers. A poor blood supply also makes it impossible for ulcers to heal, leading to severe infections, gangrene (tissue death), and critical limb ischemia (loss of a blood supply). Without limb salvage, these conditions can lead to amputation.

The conditions responsible for non-healing ulcers include:

Diabetes

Uncontrolled diabetes causes high blood sugar, which damages blood vessels, restricts blood flow, and leads to lower leg and foot wounds (diabetic foot ulcers).

Peripheral artery disease (PAD)

Peripheral artery disease occurs when cholesterol plaque develops in your leg arteries, narrowing the artery, increasingly blocking blood flow, and causing arterial ulcers. Critical limb ischemia is an advanced stage of PAD.

Venous insufficiency

Venous insufficiency causes leg ulcers as it increases blood pressure in the veins in your lower leg. High venous pressure forces fluids to leave the blood vessels, breaking down your skin, and causing a venous ulcer.

Venous ulcers may also develop in areas where blood pools in the vein, leading to inflammation that disrupts the blood supply.

What should I expect during limb salvage?

Limb salvage takes a multifaceted approach. Your provider treats the underlying condition, provides wound care, and determines if you need minimally invasive or advanced procedures to save the limb. 

Minimally invasive treatments, such as angioplasty and stenting, atherectomy, and endovenous ablation, immediately restore circulation (revascularization) and promote healing.

In more advanced cases of PAD, or if you don’t qualify for a minimally invasive procedure, you may need lower extremity bypass surgery. Your provider takes a small piece of a healthy vein and uses it to bypass the arterial blockage.

No matter which revascularization treatment you receive, your provider also begins wound treatment. This process includes infection control, advanced dressings and skin substitutes, and wound debridement.

Debridement cleans away dead tissues, which promotes healing and stops gangrene from worsening. Wound care and revascularization with an endovascular procedure work together to save your limb and prevent amputation.

Call Advanced Vascular Cardiac & Veins or request an appointment online today to get the in-depth limb salvage care you need.