Amputations are one of the worst things that can occur in an accident, be it on the roads, at work or elsewhere. They can have long-lasting consequences for those affected.
You can differentiate amputations by which body part is lost. You can also do so based on how much of that body part is lost, i.e., whether it is a partial or complete amputation. Yet there is another way to classify them, too.
Traumatic vs. surgical
Traumatic amputations occur in the accident itself. For example, a person sees a finger cut clean off while cleaning a meat slicer or a leg sheared in half in a motorcycle crash. By contrast, a surgical amputation is something that a surgeon will make a conscious decision to perform, usually in the controlled environment of an operating theater. While they will consult with the victim or their family, it will often be very clear that there is no choice but to operate.
Failing to perform a surgical amputation when needed could see infection spread throughout the body, posing great danger to the person. The limb may well be practically useless anyway, such as if severely crushed in an accident.
Despite the two different names, it’s clear that any type of amputation will be incredibly traumatic for the person and their family. It can also have a huge financial impact on them, perhaps reducing a person’s ability to earn an income, as well as inhibiting their ability to do the things they always could. Rehabilitation can certainly help a person adapt, but you can never replace what was lost.
Securing adequate compensation will be vital for anyone who loses a body part due to someone else’s negligence. This is equally true whether the actual amputation occurs in the accident or is performed later by surgeons.