The Psychological and Somatic Consequences of Digital Amputation

Background: Major limb amputation is a devastating potential outcome of trauma, tumor, or disease. Much has been written about the physical, functional, economic, and psychological consequences of major limb loss. In contradistinction, considerably less has been written concerning the consequences of “minor” limb loss, specifically single partial digit amputations. Are minor limb (partial single digit) amputations associated with symptoms of psychological disorder similar to those reported for major limb amputations? Methods: We conducted a clinical research study through interview and examination of 25 adult patients (average age: 45 years) who had suffered a single partial digit amputation to determine if symptoms of depression, anxiety, anger, or posttraumatic stress disorder newly occurred, and if such symptoms correlated with the surgical outcome. Questionnaires for Quick-DASH, Michigan Hand Score, and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5 Psychological Profile testing were completed. Results: All but one of the patients suffered from psychological symptoms for a minimum of 3 months. Symptom resolution time averaged 6 months for seven of the 25 patients. For 18 of the 25 patients, both psychological disturbance and neuroma pain were ongoing. The Psychological Profile scores suggesting pathology were inversely related to the scores on the Quick-Dash and Michigan Hand (somatic) questionnaires indicating wellness (P < 0.03). Conclusions: (1) Even minor partial amputations of single digits can trigger significant psychological disturbance; the study hypothesis is validated. (2) Psychological and somatic outcomes are directly correlative. (3) Mitigating neuroma pain and verbally offering psychological support services early in the postamputation period should improve the clinical outcome of digital amputations.