Limb Amputation

Limb amputation is both a life-saving procedure and a life-changing event. The aims of rehabilitation following amputation are to restore acceptable levels of functioning that allow individuals to achieve their goals, facilitate personal health, and improve participation in society and quality of life, either with or without a prosthesis. Individual responses to limb loss are varied and complex; some individuals experience functional, psychological, and social dysfunction; many others adjust and function well. This chapter highlights critical psychological and social issues in amputation, summarizes current knowledge in these domains, and provides a brief overview of psychological interventions designed to address these issues.