Limb Salvage & Preservation Care

Take the First Step

If you believe you are at risk for heart disease, it’s time to take the first step in improving your cardiac health. Visit your primary care provider to discuss your heart health to see if you need a referral to one of our heart specialists. If you do not have a primary care provider, follow the steps below to get started:

Why limb loss occurs

When neglected, vascular disease and diabetes make you more vulnerable to limb loss. Peripheral artery disease, for instance, can slow healing in your legs and feet, while diabetic neuropathy may prevent you from even noticing the wound. Left untreated, such wounds can lead to life-threatening infections that can only be stopped by amputating the infected limb. Since complications can occur rapidly, getting treatment as soon as possible is critical.

Conditions that can threaten your limbs

The limb preservation program at Novant Health focuses on treating limb-threatening conditions related to vascular disease and diabetes. These conditions include:

• Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD): A narrowing of blood vessels in the arms and legs.
• Diabetic Foot Ulcers: Open wounds that usually occur on the bottom of the feet.
• Diabetic Foot Pain: Nerve damage causing pain and numbness that makes some with diabetes more prone to injury and infection, especially if sensation is reduced.
• Venous Leg Ulcers and Leg Wounds: Non-healing leg and ankle wounds caused by damaged veins, injuries and blood clots.
• Critical Limb Ischemia: An advanced form of PAD where severe blood vessel blockages occur.
• Complex Foot and Ankle Deformity: Conditions like Charcot (pronounced shar-CO) arthropathy that reduce sensation and increase susceptibility to injury and infection.
• Arterial Occlusive Disease: A narrowing of arteries throughout the body.

Your multidisciplinary limb preservation team

Because loss of a limb can result from multiple health factors, your core care team will be led by a team of specialists, including a:

• Vascular Surgeon: Vascular surgeons will typically lead your multidisciplinary limb preservation team due to their expertise in restoring the smooth flow of blood critical to wound healing.
• Reconstructive Surgeon: These specialists might be called in to preserve or restore function and normal appearance of a limb should you require removal of tissue or bone to treat your wound. General, orthopedic, plastic or vascular surgeons may perform such procedures.
• Hyperbaric Medicine Specialist: These physicians determine whether you would benefit from this treatment and, if so, set the breathing gas mixture used to treat you and the duration and frequency of your treatments.

This core care team will coordinate with cardiologists, endocrinologists, podiatrists, orthopedic surgeons, infectious disease, orthopedic and other specialists that care for you to create your treatment plan.