Caring for
yourself post-surgery is an important part of the healing process. After your
operation, you will be equipped with knowledge and skills to maintain a healthy
residual limb including understanding infection risks, precautions to take
while in hospital and how vigilance can help prevent further complications down
the line. With proper care on your end as well as professional guidance from
healthcare personnel, you’ll have everything necessary to start off strong
towards recovery! Ensuring appropriate hygiene for your residual limb is
paramount to avoiding potential issues like skin breakdown or infection. Don’t
wait until a minor irritation escalates–act quickly and take preventative
steps! And don’t forget that this applies not just around the waist but
throughout all of your body, so be aware of any wounds that may pop up
elsewhere too.
Remember: The best way to handle an infection is to prevent it
by following these guidelines:
·
Wash your residual limb with mild soap and water, then rinse and pat
dry. Do this at least once a day, or more if you sweat a lot or are treating a
rash or infection. Ask your pharmacist to recommend a nonperfumed, pH-balanced
lotion.
·
Wash anything that comes into contact with your skin (liners, socks,
inner socket, etc.) with mild soap and water, then rinse and dry (check
manufacturer’s instructions).
·
Do not use alcohol-based lotions on your skin, as it dries it out and
can cause cracks, which can lead to infections.
·
Use only enough softening lotion to avoid flaking, peeling dry skin. Ask
your pharmacist to recommend a nonperfumed moisturizing lotion. Do not apply
moisturizing lotion to the amputated limb immediately before applying
prosthesis. The best time to apply lotion is at night before going to bed. It
is important to prevent either excessive dryness or excessive humidity of the
skin.
·
Maintain a good prosthetic fit; learn how to adjust your sock ply, if
applicable, or go for a prosthetic adjustment if you start to get redness over
a pressure area. This will prevent the pressure area from becoming a pressure
sore.
·
Maintain correct alignment of your prosthesis by wearing the correct
heel height that your prosthesis was aligned with and by maintaining a good
socket fit.
·
Eat a balanced diet and drink plenty of water (unless you have liquid
intake restrictions) to maintain supple, healthy skin.
·
If you are have diabetes, monitor and maintain your glucose levels.
·
If you have decreased sensation in your limb, remove your prosthesis
several times per day to check for pressure areas.
The following
complications may occur even if you take the above precautions:
·
Red area that does not go away when prosthesis is off:
Treatment – check prosthetic fit before the red area becomes an abrasion.
·
Blisters caused by pressure or shear (friction) between socket/liner and
skin:
Treatment – check prosthetic fit, protect (do not burst)
blister, and cover with very thin sterile dressing such as Telfa. If the
blister has opened on its own, keep it clean and covered, and consult with a
nurse for recommendation of the most appropriate treatment.
Bacterial
infections (infected hair follicle, stitch abscess, infected pressure area,
etc.) will have the following signs, ranked in order of severity, and should be
treated by your physician:
·
Area around the wound is warm/hot
·
Area becomes red and swollen
·
Pus or white/yellow drainage
·
Red lines running up the extremity from the wound
·
Sudden increase in pain
·
Severe tenderness
·
Fever.
Any of the
following signs of infection require emergency attention
to prevent it from spreading to your entire body and jeopardizing your life:
·
Circulation decreases; the extremity feels cool/cold
·
Wound or area smells bad
·
Swollen glands in groin or armpits
·
Wound has thick, brown/gray discharge
·
Skin around the wound turns black or gangrenous.
If you are taking
antibiotics, always finish the prescription even if the infection seems
to have cleared up. Follow your physician’s instructions carefully and
maintain good hygiene for the following conditions:
·
Allergic reaction: itchy rash.
Treatment – If the rash is mild, a topical antihistamine cream may help. Make
sure liners, socks, etc. are rinsed after washing. Seek medical advice if it
persists.
·
Fungal infection: itchy burning rash similar to athlete’s foot.
Treatment – Topical antifungal creams and/or diaper cream may work; if not,
seek medical advice.
·
Verrucous hyperplasia: thickened, red area on end of limb that becomes
“warty” looking in later stages and can lead to systemic infection. This is
caused by a vacuum between the residual limb and socket (lack of total contact
creates a suction effect on the end of the limb).
Treatment – Check socket fit and seek medical advice to treat skin.
Reminders
·
Removing the cause and treating the problem go hand-in-hand. If you have
diabetes or peripheral vascular disease, it is imperative that you monitor your
limb frequently and seek medical and prosthetic advice if you have an opening
in the skin. If you catch a problem early and take care, you will often be able
to continue to wear your prosthesis while healing.
·
Swelling stretches the skin and makes it easier to break or tear. While
the wound of your amputation surgery is still fresh, keep compression on your
residual limb either by wrapping with an elastic bandage, wearing a shrinker,
or wearing your Immediate Post-op or preliminary prosthesis; keep it elevated
whenever possible. The limb should be raised above the level of your heart to
prevent swelling.
·
Take care of your whole self – body, mind, and spirit. Eat well and
drink plenty of water to strengthen your body’s natural healing capacity. Check
your residual limb regularly for breakdown or signs of infection. When you see
a sign of infection, even a small one, act quickly.