Changes

Side-effects of amputation can include psychological trauma and discomfort. Patients sometimes report phantom limb pain, in which nerve activity in the stump is perceived as pain in a body part that is no longer present.

Side-effects of amputation can include psychological trauma and discomfort. Patients sometimes report phantom limb pain, in which nerve activity in the stump is perceived as pain in a body part that is no longer present.

Fingertips and toetips that have been amputated beyond the level of the nail bed have been known to occasionally regenerate spontaneously<ref>Tracy L.Muller, Valerie Ngo-Muller, Angela Reginelli, Fail Taylor, Rosalie Anderson and Ken Muneoka (1999).  Regeneration in higher vertebrates: Limb buds and digit tips. Cell & Development Biology, 10:405-413</ref>. Amputations in humans that involve more than the tip of a digit do not regenerate. In contrast, many reptile and amphibian species are able to regenerate entire limbs after amputation.

Fingertips and toetips that have been amputated beyond the level of the nail bed have been known to occasionally regenerate spontaneously.<ref>Tracy L.Muller, Valerie Ngo-Muller, Angela Reginelli, Fail Taylor, Rosalie Anderson and Ken Muneoka (1999).  Regeneration in higher vertebrates: Limb buds and digit tips. Cell & Development Biology, 10:405-413</ref> Amputations in humans that involve more than the tip of a digit do not regenerate. In contrast, many reptile and amphibian species are able to regenerate entire limbs after amputation.

Non-medical amputation is used as a form of punishment or as an act of terrorism.

Non-medical amputation is used as a form of punishment or as an act of terrorism.