Limb Preservation Program

If you’re at risk of losing a limb because of injury, infection or another condition or have had problems with healing broken bones, different leg lengths, or abnormal shape to your legs or arms, we’re here to support you.

At MU Health Care, our Limb Preservation Program team will explore every alternative to preserve your limb and quality of life. We offer innovative, limb-sparing treatments not available at most hospitals in mid-Missouri. Even if you’ve been told that amputation is your only option, our limb preservation specialists may be able to help.

Our Approach to Limb Preservation

We’re the only hospital in the region offering complex surgical reconstructions and care from multiple specialties to help patients preserve limbs. We provide personalized treatments for complex wounds and injuries that involve bone, skin, muscle, nerve or artery damage.

As an academic health system, MU Health Care has subspecialists who specialize in advanced treatments to save limbs. With extensive limb-preservation expertise, our surgeons are uniquely equipped to address the most challenging conditions and help prevent limb loss.

Your Limb Preservation Team

Our team approach is what sets the Limb Preservation Program apart. From diagnosis to surgery and rehabilitation, we work together to give you the best chance of saving your limb.

Our orthopaedic surgeons, which include microvascular surgeons, collaborate with several other specialties, such as:

Our limb preservation team also includes the only orthopaedic oncologist in mid-Missouri to treat musculoskeletal tumors.

When to See a Limb Preservation Specialist

If you have an injury or condition that puts you at high risk for an amputation or you have concerns about your bones healing, shape or leg lengths, reach, reach out to us. Patients from across region come to MU Health Care for second opinions on how to preserve their limb. Because we have advanced treatments not available at other hospitals, we may offer new solutions to save your limb.

Conditions and Injuries We Treat

Bone deformities
Chronic wounds
Critical limb ischemia (CLI)
Diabetic ulcers
Elbow pain and injuries
Foot and ankle pain
Fractures
Hand and wrist pain
Hip pain
Knee pain
Leg length discrepancy
Musculoskeletal tumors
Nerve pain
Orthopaedic trauma
Osteomyelitis (bone infections)
Peripheral artery disease (PAD)
Phantom limb pain
Sarcomas
Shoulder pain and injuries

Limb Preservation Services

Our Limb Preservation Program offers the full range of advanced limb preservation services.

Preventive Screenings to Reduce Amputation Risk

PAD and other conditions that affect blood flow to the limbs raise your risk of amputation. Our limb-salvage specialists offer screenings to catch early signs of poor circulation and reduce your risk of amputation. We also provide personalized treatments to improve blood flow to your limb to help lower your risk.

Tissue Reconstruction and Microvascular Surgery

Some injuries and conditions cause tissue loss. Reconstruction of those areas requires removing muscle and skin from another part of the body to replace it. Our microvascular surgeons have extensive training in reconstructions, which often include transferring tissue grafts and reconnecting blood vessels. These limb-sparing surgeries have helped many patients avoid amputation.

Bone and Cartilage Grafts

Our team has extensive research in broken bones that fail to heal and can offer advanced surgeries when other methods fail.

If your joint has cartilage damage, we may use osteochondral allografts. This involves transplanting human bone and cartilage from a donor. This advanced procedure can help improve limb and joint function. Our team is a leader in research on how to extend the life of these transplant tissues.

Surgery (Osteotomy) for Bone Deformities

An osteotomy is surgery to correct misshaped bones to improve limb function and reduce pain. During this procedure, your surgical team will cut and realign your bone. Realigning and reshaping bone can alleviate pressure on the surrounding joints and reduce the risk of further damage.

Limb Lengthening

If your or your child’s legs have a difference of two centimeters or more, surgery can help even them out. MU Health Care is the only hospital in mid-Missouri that offers this surgery for adults and children.

After surgery, you may receive a portable device that continues to lengthen or shorten the rod at home.

Limb-Sparing Surgery for Sarcomas (Bone and Soft Tissue Cancers)

Sarcomas are rare bone and soft tissue cancers. MU Health Care is home to the only orthopaedic oncologist in mid-Missouri who specializes in treating musculoskeletal tumors like sarcomas. Treatments available include limb-sparing reconstructions and special implants to rebuild affected limbs after cancer is removed.

Treatment for Bone Infections (Osteomyelitis)

Osteomyelitis is an infection within the bone. To treat this condition, our surgeons may clean or remove the infected bone in surgery. Our experts can also repair the bone to help preserve your function.

Psychological Support

Our team includes a behavioral psychologist who can help patients adjust to the mental health issues associated with chronic health conditions, including those associated with injury like post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression.