Div 4Amputation of upper limbs

Division 4—Amputation of upper limbs

Comment about appropriate level of ISV for items 94 to 95 An ISV at or near the top of the range will generally only be appropriate if the amputation is of the dominant upper limb

Loss of both upper limbs, or loss of 1 arm and extreme injury to the other arm

The effect of the injury is to reduce the injured person to a state of considerable helplessness

•	Whether the amputations are above or below the elbow (the loss of the elbow joint adds greatly to the disability)
•	The length of any stump suitable for use with a prosthesis
•	Severity of any phantom pains

•	An ISV of 70 to 85 will be appropriate if—
(a)	both upper limbs are amputated at the shoulder; or
(b)	1 arm is amputated at the shoulder, and there is a loss of function in the other arm, causing whole person impairment of 60%.
•	An ISV of 65 to 80 will be appropriate if—
(a)	both upper limbs are amputated through the elbow or above the elbow but below the shoulder; or
(b)	1 arm is amputated through the elbow or above the elbow but below the shoulder, and there is a loss of function in the other arm, causing whole person impairment of 57%.
•	An ISV of 55 to 75 will be appropriate if—
(a)	both upper limbs are amputated below the elbow; or
(b)	1 arm is amputated below the elbow, and there is a loss of function in the other arm, causing whole person impairment of 54%.

Loss of 1 upper limb

•	Whether the amputation is above or below the elbow (the loss of the elbow joint adds greatly to the disability)
•	Whether the amputation was of the dominant arm
•	The length of any stump suitable for use with a prosthesis
•	Severity of any phantom pains
•	Extent of any disability in the other arm

95.1 An upper limb amputation at the shoulder 95.2 An upper limb amputation through the elbow or above the elbow but below the shoulder

•	An ISV at or near the bottom of the range will generally be appropriate if there is an amputation through the elbow
•	An ISV at or near the top of the range will be appropriate if there is a short stump because a short stump may create difficulties in the use of a prosthesis

95.3 An upper limb amputation below the elbow

An ISV at or near the top of the range will be appropriate if there is an amputation through the forearm with residual severe pain in the stump and phantom pains