Severa Health Dictionary

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Severa: From 1 Different Sources

(Italian) Feminine form of Severo; one who is stern

Severra, Severah, Severia, Severea, Severiya, Severya, Severana, Severanna, Severeen, Severeene, Severine, Severyne

Health Source: Medical Dictionary
Author: Health Dictionary

Amputation

Severance of a limb, or part of a limb, from the rest of the body. The leg is the most common site of amputation. It is usually performed as a controlled operation and may be required for a variety of reasons. In the young, severe injury is the most common cause, when damage to the limb is so extensive as to make it non-viable or functionally useless. In the elderly, amputation is more often the result of vascular insu?ciency, resulting in gangrene or intractable pain.

Sarcoma (see CANCER) of bone, muscle or connective tissues in a limb is another reason for amputation.

The aim is to restore the patient to full mobility with a prosthetic (arti?cial) limb, which requires both a well-?tting PROSTHESIS and a well-healed surgical wound. If this is not possible, the aim is to leave the patient with a limb stump that is still useful for balancing, sitting and transferring. Common types of lower-limb amputation are shown in the illustration. The Symes amputation can be walked upon without requiring a prosthesis. The below-knee amputation preserves normal ?exion of the knee, and virtually normal walking can be achieved with a well-?tting arti?cial limb. Learning to walk is more di?cult following an above-knee amputation, but some highly motivated patients can manage well. After any amputation it is not unusual for the patient to experience the sensation that the limb is still present: this is called a ‘PHANTOM LIMB’ and the sensation may persist for a long time.... amputation

Nerve Conduction Studies

Tests carried out to assess the extent of nerve damage caused by disorders of the peripheral nervous system (see neuropathy). In the test, an electrical stimulus is applied to a nerve, and the speed at which the nerve responds to the stimulus and transmits a signal is recorded.

nerve injury Damage or severance of conducting fibres within a nerve as a result of trauma, causing loss of skin sensation and muscle power. (See neuropathy for nerve damage from cause.

other than injury.)

If a peripheral nerve (a nerve outside the brain or spinal cord) is only partially severed, the cut fibres may be able to regenerate. Provided the severed ends are still aligned, new fibres can grow across the cut to rejoin the connection, restoring function. If a nerve is totally severed, the individual fibres cannot regenerate successfully and there is no recovery of function. Nerve tracts within the brain and spinal cord are structurally different from the peripheral nerves, and severed fibres in these tracts do not regenerate. For example, vision cannot be restored if the optic nerves are cut.Microsurgery can sometimes be used to stitch a severed peripheral nerve into place, but recovery is rarely complete.... nerve conduction studies

Neurotmesis

n. the complete severance of a peripheral nerve, which is associated with degeneration of the nerve fibres distal to the point of severance and slow *nerve regeneration. Compare axonotmesis; neurapraxia.... neurotmesis

Wallerian Degeneration

degeneration of a ruptured nerve fibre that occurs within the nerve sheath distal to the point of severance. [A. V. Waller (1816–70), British physician]... wallerian degeneration

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