Autoamputation

Last updated

Autoamputation is the spontaneous detachment (amputation) of an appendage or organ from the body. [1] This is not to be confused with self-amputation. It is usually due to destruction of the blood vessels feeding an extremity such as the finger tips. Once the vessels are destroyed, the tissue is starved of oxygen and dies, which is often followed by gangrene. Autoamputation is a feature of ainhum, cryoglobulinemia [2] and thromboangiitis obliterans. In 1881, Thornton made the case of autoamputation. [3] Autoamputation could be the result of severe cases of certain chronic wounds, such as frostbite. These chronic wounds might be due to some vascular and pathogenic conditions [4] like Buerger disease or Reynaud's phenomenon. Also, uncontrolled diabetes can predispose one to autoamputation. [4] However, autoamputation has been described as spontaneous. [5] Autoamputation has often been associated with fingers and toes but other parts of the body can suffer this condition as well. There have been reported cases of ovarian autoamputation in a newborn [6] and also in a mature ovary of adults. [3] Autoamputation has been reported to affect the tip of fingers. [7] Though autoamputation is often regarded as an acquired ailment, it could also be congenital. [3] Chronic torsion or a delay in the diagnosis of acute adnexal torsion has been attributed as causes of acquired autoamputation [3]

Contents

Types of autoamputation

Though its facts are being unraveled and analyzed, autoamputation can be categorized as acute, subacute or chronic. [3] Acute autoamputation is characterized by tumor necrosis. This is accompanied by inadequate supply of blood to the heart and other body parts (ischemia) leading to the degeneration of the cells, a condition known as atropy. [3] Chronic or subacute autoamputation is evident in the attachment of the tumor to other cells surrounding it. [3] There is a rare possibility of the tumor detaching itself from the pedicle. When this happens, it could be parasitic.

See also

Notes

  1. "Dorland's Medical Dictionary for Health Consumers". Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier. 2007. Retrieved 23 December 2009.
  2. "Cryoglobulinemia: Digital Gangrene, Hands, Rheumatology Image Bank" . Retrieved 9 March 2012.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Lee, Keun; Song, Min; Jung, In; Lee, Yong; Park, Eun (2016). "Amputation of an ovarian mature cystic teratoma: a case report and a review of the literature". World Journal of Surgical Oncology. 14 (1): 217. doi: 10.1186/s12957-016-0981-7 . PMC   4989355 . PMID   27535361.
  4. 1 2 Cryer, Sian. (July 2016). "The use of manuka honey to facilitate the autoamputation of fingertip necrosis". Wounds Journal: 66.
  5. Kaushik, R; Stree, B. S.; Attri, A.K. (2002). "Spontaneous autoamputation of the foot in a case of diabetes, atherosclerosis and gangrene". Journal of Indian Medical Association. 100 (9): 573–4. PMID   12455391.
  6. Can, Emrah; Uslu, Sinan; Bulbul, Ali; Sever, Nihat; Tanik, Canan; Turkiye, K (August 2012). "Ovarian autoamputation in a neonate: case report". Journal of Medical Sciences.
  7. Behera, Biswanath; Gochhait Debasis; Thappa, Devinder, Mohan. (November–December 2017). "Psedoanihum and autoamputation associated with lamellar ichthyosis". Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology: 728.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amputation</span> Medical procedure that removes a part of the body

Amputation is the removal of a limb by trauma, medical illness, or surgery. As a surgical measure, it is used to control pain or a disease process in the affected limb, such as malignancy or gangrene. In some cases, it is carried out on individuals as a preventive surgery for such problems. A special case is that of congenital amputation, a congenital disorder, where fetal limbs have been cut off by constrictive bands. In some countries, judicial amputation is currently used to punish people who commit crimes. Amputation has also been used as a tactic in war and acts of terrorism; it may also occur as a war injury. In some cultures and religions, minor amputations or mutilations are considered a ritual accomplishment. When done by a person, the person executing the amputation is an amputator. The oldest evidence of this practice comes from a skeleton found buried in Liang Tebo cave, East Kalimantan, Indonesian Borneo dating back to at least 31,000 years ago, where it was done when the amputee was a young child.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Necrosis</span> Unprogrammed cell death caused by external cell injury

Necrosis is a form of cell injury which results in the premature death of cells in living tissue by autolysis. The term "necrosis" came about in the mid-19th century and is commonly attributed to German pathologist Rudolf Virchow, who is often regarded as one of the founders of modern pathology. Necrosis is caused by factors external to the cell or tissue, such as infection, or trauma which result in the unregulated digestion of cell components. In contrast, apoptosis is a naturally occurring programmed and targeted cause of cellular death. While apoptosis often provides beneficial effects to the organism, necrosis is almost always detrimental and can be fatal.

Angiopathy is the generic term for a disease of the blood vessels. The best known and most prevalent angiopathy is diabetic angiopathy, a common complication of chronic diabetes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gangrene</span> Type of tissue death by infection or lack of blood supply

Gangrene is a type of tissue death caused by a lack of blood supply. Symptoms may include a change in skin color to red or black, numbness, swelling, pain, skin breakdown, and coolness. The feet and hands are most commonly affected. If the gangrene is caused by an infectious agent, it may present with a fever or sepsis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Testicular torsion</span> Medical condition

Testicular torsion occurs when the spermatic cord twists, cutting off the blood supply to the testicle. The most common symptom in children is sudden, severe testicular pain. The testicle may be higher than usual in the scrotum and vomiting may occur. In newborns, pain is often absent and instead the scrotum may become discolored or the testicle may disappear from its usual place.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Necrotizing fasciitis</span> Infection that results in the death of the bodys soft tissue

Necrotizing fasciitis (NF), also known as flesh-eating disease, is a bacterial infection that results in the death of parts of the body's soft tissue. It is a severe disease of sudden onset that spreads rapidly. Symptoms usually include red or purple skin in the affected area, severe pain, fever, and vomiting. The most commonly affected areas are the limbs and perineum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Infarction</span> Tissue death due to inadequate blood supply

Infarction is tissue death (necrosis) due to inadequate blood supply to the affected area. It may be caused by artery blockages, rupture, mechanical compression, or vasoconstriction. The resulting lesion is referred to as an infarct (from the Latin infarctus, "stuffed into").

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ainhum</span> Medical condition

Ainhum, also known as dactylolysis spontanea, is a painful constriction of the base of the fifth toe frequently followed by bilateral spontaneous autoamputation a few years later.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thromboangiitis obliterans</span> Medical condition

Thromboangiitis obliterans, also known as Buerger disease or Winiwarter-Buerger disease, is a recurring progressive inflammation and thrombosis (clotting) of small and medium arteries and veins of the hands and feet. It is strongly associated with use of tobacco products, primarily from smoking, but is also associated with smokeless tobacco.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cryoglobulinemia</span> Presence of cold-sensitive antibodies in the blood

Cryoglobulinemia is a medical condition in which the blood contains large amounts of pathological cold sensitive antibodies called cryoglobulins – proteins that become insoluble at reduced temperatures. This should be contrasted with cold agglutinins, which cause agglutination of red blood cells.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hematocele</span> Medical condition

A hematocele is a collections of blood in a body cavity or potential space. The term most commonly refers to the collection of blood in the tunica vaginalis around the testes, known as a scrotal hematocele. Hematoceles can also occur in the abdominal cavity and other body cavities. Hematoceles are rare, making them harder to diagnose and treat. They are very common especially as slowly growing masses in the scrotum usually in men older than 50 years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Testicular pain</span> Medical condition

Testicular pain, also known as scrotal pain, occurs when part or all of either one or both testicles hurt. Pain in the scrotum is also often included. Testicular pain may be of sudden onset or of long duration.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fournier gangrene</span> Medical condition

Fournier gangrene is a type of necrotizing fasciitis or gangrene affecting the external genitalia or perineum. It commonly occurs in older men, but it can also occur both in women and children and in people with diabetes or alcoholism or those who are immunocompromised.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ovarian torsion</span> Twisting of an ovary such that blood flow is decreased

Ovarian torsion (OT) or adnexal torsion is an abnormal condition where an ovary twists on its attachment to other structures, such that blood flow is decreased. Symptoms typically include pelvic pain on one side. While classically the pain is sudden in onset, this is not always the case. Other symptoms may include nausea. Complications may include infection, bleeding, or infertility.

Cryofibrinogenemia refers to a condition classified as a fibrinogen disorder in which a person's blood plasma is allowed to cool substantially, causing the (reversible) precipitation of a complex containing fibrinogen, fibrin, fibronectin, and, occasionally, small amounts of fibrin split products, albumin, immunoglobulins and other plasma proteins.

Theca lutein cyst is a type of bilateral functional ovarian cyst filled with clear, straw-colored fluid. These cysts result from exaggerated physiological stimulation due to elevated levels of beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG) or hypersensitivity to beta-hCG. On ultrasound and MRI, theca lutein cysts appear in multiples on ovaries that are enlarged.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cold injury</span> Medical condition

Cold injury is damage to the body from cold exposure, including hypothermia and several skin injuries. Cold-related skin injuries are categorized into freezing and nonfreezing cold injuries. Freezing cold injuries involve tissue damage when exposed to temperatures below freezing. Nonfreezing cold injuries involve tissue damage when exposed to temperatures often between 0-15 degrees Celsius for extended periods of time. While these injuries have disproportionally affected military members, recreational winter activities have also increased the risk and incidence within civilian populations. Additional risk factors include homelessness, inadequate or wet clothing, alcohol abuse or tobacco abuse, and pre-existing medical conditions that impair blood flow.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scrotal ultrasound</span> Medical ultrasound examination of the scrotum.

Scrotalultrasound is a medical ultrasound examination of the scrotum. It is used in the evaluation of testicular pain, and can help identify solid masses.

Pediatric gynaecology or pediatric gynecology is the medical practice dealing with the health of the vagina, vulva, uterus, and ovaries of infants, children, and adolescents. Its counterpart is pediatric andrology, which deals with medical issues specific to the penis and testes.