Amputation From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Amputation is the removal of a body extremity by trauma or surgery Some types of amputation are foot amputations, ankle disarticulation, below-knee amputation (transtibial), knee-bearing amputation (Symes), above knee amputation (transfemoral), hip disarticulation, amputation of digits, metacarpal amputation, wrist disarticulation, forearm amputation, elbow disarticulation, above-elbow amputation (transradial), and shoulder disarticulation and forequarter amputation. Some amputees experience the phenomenon of phantom limbs ; they feel body parts that are no longer there. These limbs can itch, ache, and feel as if they are moving. Some scientists believe it has to do with a kind of neural map that the brain has of the body, which sends information to the brain about limbs regardless of their existence. Amputation is usually done for medical reasons, but in some countries also as official punishment. A few people have an " amputation fetish ," feeling that they are not "complete" until they have a certain part amputated. Psychologists describe the little understood disorder as sexual in origin. | |
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