Auto Amputation and Demarcation- When the Body Cuts You Off: Understanding Auto-Amputation

In this episode Dr. G explains auto-amputation — when severely ischemic tissue becomes irreversibly necrotic, the immune system walls it off (demarcation), and the dead segment desiccates and may spontaneously detach. You’ll learn the step-by-step mechanisms from loss of blood flow and ATP depletion to fibro-inflammatory border formation and bone resorption. We also cover why demarcation is not healing, how infection can convert dry gangrene to dangerous wet gangrene, and when urgent vascular care is needed to prevent limb loss or life-threatening complications.