After an amputation, care instructions vary depending on the location of the amputation. General instructions include proper dressing and bandaging, cleaning the stump, and developing good hygiene and skin care practices. Patients may also receive instructions on preparing the stump for an amputation prosthesis. Good skin care and hygiene habits are important for preventing irritation, injury, and infection.
Because there are different types of amputations, the exact care instructions you follow will depend on which part of the body was amputated. After your amputation surgery, your surgeon, nurses, and other health care professionals will teach you how to properly care for your particular amputation stump. Even so, there are some post-amputation care instructions that apply across the board. These include instruction on dressings and bandages, cleaning the stump, and developing proper hygiene and skin care practices. Depending on your situation, you may also receive instructions on how to help prepare the stump for an amputation prosthesis.
Generally, there are two types of dressings for an amputation stump. The first is a typical wound dressing to protect the incision area. The second dressing, usually placed over the first, is used to minimize swelling and prepare the stump for an amputation prosthesis. The exact method of applying these bandages, and how much skin on the remaining limb they should cover, depends on your specific amputation. General rules include keeping the limb straight while bandaging, making sure the bandages are not too tight or too loose, and re-dressing the amputation stump as many times a day as prescribed by your doctor.
Depending on your situation, your doctor may recommend that you wear a sock-like bandage called a shrink. This bandage is designed to fit the amputation stump like a sock would fit the foot. While heat shrink wraps aren’t always as effective as regular wraps, they are generally easier to use. When wearing shrink wrap, you need to make sure the top of the fabric doesn’t roll up, as this can reduce blood circulation to the stump. See your doctor right away if the shrink wrap starts to feel too loose or too tight.
Your doctor will tell you how long to wait after an amputation before you can start washing the stump, but patients usually start this process once the stump has healed. Wash the amputation stump at least once a day with warm water and mild soap. During baths, avoid wetting the stump as this can soften the skin and increase lesion changes. Refrain from using products with harsh chemicals, as they can cause dryness and prevent the skin from replacing its natural oils. Simple, non-medicated talcum powders can help absorb sweat and keep the stump dry.
As you get older, it’s just as important to practice good skin care and hygiene habits as you did right after your amputation surgery. The skin over and near the amputation stump is not as tough and tough as the skin on other parts of the body and is more susceptible to irritation, injury, and infection. This is especially true for stumps that endure the constant stresses of wearing an amputation prosthesis. Many medical and health supply stores stock specific skin care products for different types of amputations. Treat any abrasions or irritations as directed by your doctor, but be sure to contact your doctor if they don’t improve within a reasonable amount of time.
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