Shared decision-making in limb salvage versus amputation: A commentary and review

Abstract

Limb-threatening upper and lower extremity traumas are life-changing events that are frequently treated with either replantation or amputation. Given the severity of impact on a patient's life, establishing proper shared decision-making is essential when communicating with patients the options of amputation versus limb salvage. Despite the widespread prevalence of shared decision-making in healthcare, it remains the exception, rather than the rule in limb-threatening traumas. This paper therefore seeks to describe existing shared decision-making frameworks in the hopes of improving utilization of such models in limb salvage cases.