Limb Preservation

At the Hartford HealthCare Heart and Vascular Institute, we use a team-based approach to provide the best experience for patients with wounds of the toe, foot or ankle.

For patients with chronic or severe wounds of the toe, foot or ankle, amputation is a major concern; for those with risk factors such as diabetes or atherosclerosis, that risk can be as high as 20 percent per year.

Treating the wound itself is only the start of the healing process – our limb preservation programs look at the whole patient and address many contributing factors such as blood supply, diabetes control, infection prevention and rehabilitation to ensure your long-term limb health.

Hartford HealthCare’s Limb Preservation Programs, with locations in central and eastern Connecticut, offer convenient access to an integrated team that promotes wound healing, addresses underlying risk factors that may be putting your leg health at risk, and takes a coordinated approach to preventing amputation. 

From Referral to Diagnosis

If you have a concern about your foot or leg health – whether it be a wound, ulcer or pain while walking – reach out to the Hartford HealthCare Limb Preservation Program closest to you.

You’ll work with a specially-trained nurse navigator or advanced practitioner who will serve as your point of contact and guide throughout the diagnosis and treatment process.

Based on your individualized needs, you may be scheduled for non-invasive tests that will advise your course of treatment, including blood pressure screenings, ultrasounds, and other tests that evaluate the quality of blood flow in your limbs.

After testing, your nurse navigator or advanced practitioner will set up the appropriate consultations with a wide range of experts that may include podiatrists, endocrinologists, wound care specialists, vascular or general surgeons, and more.

Should you end up needing surgery, your nurse navigator or advanced practitioner will also coordinate the recovery process, including rehabilitation, fitting of orthotics, and routine follow-ups.

Treatments and Technology

The Limb Preservation Program at Hartford HealthCare is committed to offering cutting edge therapy right in your community. Our providers may recommend a variety of treatments, including:

• Angiograms-minimally invasive outpatient procedure where a tiny camera is inserted into your blood vessels through a small puncture in your groin to obtain pictures of any blockages that may impede healing. Your provider may use specially designed technology that can open blocked blood vessels including stents, cutting devices, and balloons.
• Surgery-a variety of complex surgical treatments to improve blood flow to the wound, clean or close unhealthy tissue or open wounds, or remove non-healing tissue or bones.
• Advanced wound care-the wound care center at The Hospital of Central Connecticut offers a number of cutting-edge treatments including hyperbaric oxygen therapy, negative pressure therapy, synthetic skin grafts, and more.

No matter the course of treatment, we believe that great care can be provided quickly, easily and close to home.

If Amputation is Necessary

Our team is committed to doing everything we can to prevent amputation, but sometimes that outcome is unavoidable.

If amputation is required, we connect you with resources to get you up, walking and functioning as soon as possible, whether it be physical therapy, prosthesis fittings, or amputee support group.

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System strength saved a Salem butcher, Adam Richotte

Adam Ritchotte, who has worked at Salem Prime Cuts for three years, had a beef shoulder on the stainless steel table. With a six-inch boning knife to separate meat from bone, he made one long, smooth cut from the top, down toward him. As he neared the bottom, the knife slipped and plunged directly into his groin, near the right hip, almost to the hilt. Without thinking, he pulled it out and clamped his hand over the wound.
See what happened next >>

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