Limb Salvage or Early Amputation

A. The Physician team should evaluate overall burden of injury and patient physiology when considering if initial limb salvage is advisable. (M)

B. In the absence of reliable evidence, the workgroup suggests the physician team should prioritize patient survival in the limb reconstruction vs. amputation decision. Limb specific damage control (i.e. temporizing) measures or immediate amputation should be considered when further attempts at definitive salvage will increase risk of mortality. (M)

C. Physicians should consider the cumulative injury burden (soft tissue, vascular, nerve, bone, joint) of the limb when counseling patients on anticipated outcomes of and making recommendations on when to pursue limb salvage or amputation treatment. (M)