Management of an Entrapped Patient with a Field Amputation

A carefully preplanned protocol may lead to increased overall survivability for entrapped patients requiring emergent field amputation. Based on the lessons learned from the outcome of this case, previous cases, and a literature review, we have devised a simplified planning tool in the form of a “LIMB” mnemonic to aid EMS services in developing their own traumatic amputation protocol (TAP). “LIMB” is an acronym for: Lists of resources and equipment, Initiate TAP checklist, Manage the extrication, and Bring the patient in. The LIMB mnemonic may also be used as a checklist to assist EMS personnel in performing a field amputation. We offer rescuers a starting point to develop their own TAP capable of being executed in their own rescue environment.