Autoamputation is the spontaneous detachment (

amputation 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 indi ...

) of an appendage or organ from the body. 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 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 ga ...

. Autoamputation is a feature of ainhum,

cryoglobulinemia Cryoglobulinemia is a medical condition in which the blood contains large amounts of pathological cold sensitive antibodies called cryoglobulins – proteins (mostly immunoglobulins themselves) that become insoluble at reduced temperatures. T ...

and

thromboangiitis obliterans Thromboangiitis obliterans, also known as Buerger disease (English ; ) 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 a ...

. In 1881, Thornton made the case of autoamputation. Autoamputation could be the result of severe cases of certain chronic wounds, such as

frostbite Frostbite is a skin injury that occurs when exposed to extreme low temperatures, causing the freezing of the skin or other tissues, commonly affecting the fingers, toes, nose, ears, cheeks and chin areas. Most often, frostbite occurs in the han ...

. These chronic wounds might be due to some vascular and pathogenic conditions like Buerger disease or Reynaud's phenomenon. Also, uncontrolled diabetes can predispose one to autoamputation. However, autoamputation has been described as spontaneous. 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 and also in a mature ovary of adults. Autoamputation has been reported to affect the tip of fingers. Though autoamputation is often regarded as an acquired ailment, it could also be congenital. Chronic torsion or a delay in the diagnosis of acute adnexal torsion has been attributed as causes of acquired autoamputation

Types of autoamputation

Though its facts are being unraveled and analyzed, autoamputation can be categorized as acute, subacute or chronic. 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. Chronic or subacute autoamputation is evident in the attachment of the tumor to other cells surrounding it. There is a rare possibility of the tumor detaching itself from the pedicle. When this happens, it could be parasitic.

Notes

{{reflist Lee, K. H; Min Jong Song, In Cheul Jung, Yong Seok Lee and Eun Kyung Park. Autoamputation Of An Ovarian Mature Cystic Teratoma: A Case Report And A Review Of The Literature. World Journal of Surgical Oncology. 2016. 14:217 Cryer, Sian. The Use of Manuka Honey to Facilitate The Autoamputation of Fingertip Necrosis. Wounds UK (Wounds UK), July 2016; 12(2): 66-70. (4p) Kaushik, R; Sree, B. S; and Attri, A. K. Spontaneous auto-amputation of the foot in a case of diabetes, atherosclerosis and gangrene. J Indian Med Assoc. Sept 2002 100(9):573-4. Can, Emrah; Uslu, Sinan; Bülbül, Ali; Sever, N. and Tanik, Canan. Ovarian Autoamputation in a Neonate: Case Report: Turkiye Klinikleri Journal of Medical Sciences 2012. P. 728 Behera, B; Gochhait, D and Thappa, D.M. Pseudoainhum And Autoamputation Associated With Lamellar Ichthyosis. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2017;83:728-9 Medical terminology Types of amputations

Types of autoamputation

See also

Notes