Amputation can also happen as an accident, which is called a traumatic amputation.
For this reason, limb removal is usually advised only when other options are not possible or have little chance of success. There are many different ways to perform an amputation. A single finger or toe may be removed, or an entire arm or leg. The surgeon will usually try to remove as little of the limb as needed to treat the condition. An amputation is done in an operating room .