The Hidden Trauma of War-Related Amputations in Children
When children lose limbs in war zones, they’re not just dealing with physical injury - they’re processing complex trauma that affects every aspect of healing. Universal Limbs has developed specialized psychosocial interventions that recognize how war trauma and limb loss interact to create unique rehabilitation challenges.
Research by the Gaza Mental Health Foundation (2024) reveals that 89% of children with war-related amputations exhibit symptoms of PTSD. This isn’t just a statistic - it represents children who may struggle to sleep, experience flashbacks during prosthetic training, or feel hypervigilant to sounds that remind them of the injury event. Traditional rehabilitation approaches often miss these crucial psychological factors.
Our trauma-informed approach acknowledges that a child’s brain and body are simultaneously processing multiple losses: the physical limb, their sense of safety, often family members, and their familiar environment. Al-Tabatibi et al. (2023) documented developmental regression in 65% of children following traumatic amputation from military strikes, highlighting how war trauma can actually interfere with the learning processes needed for prosthetic adaptation.
This is why our workshops begin with safety-building and emotional regulation before introducing prosthetic training. Children need to feel secure enough to engage with new learning. We use grounding techniques, create predictable routines, and always give children choices about their participation.
What’s particularly important is addressing how trauma memories can be triggered during prosthetic training. A certain movement might remind a child of the moment they were injured, suddenly overwhelming them with fear or sadness. Our facilitators are trained to recognize these moments and respond with gentle reorientation techniques.
The research is clear: addressing war trauma alongside prosthetic training doesn’t slow down rehabilitation - it actually accelerates it. When children feel emotionally safe and supported, they learn new skills more quickly and use their prosthetics more consistently in daily life.
For organizations working with war-affected children, integrating mental health support isn’t optional - it’s essential for successful outcomes.