Hygiene and residual limb care
Maintaining the health of your child’s residual limb is extremely important. Good hygiene is paramount to preventing problems.
If your child uses a prosthetic liner it must be washed/cleaned on a daily basis with a mild non-fragrant soap or cleaned with a damp cloth and left to dry. Stump socks should be changed, washed/cleaned daily.
Some children with limb difference can experience skin problems and breakdowns on their residual limb. This could be due to a number of different reasons such as heat and perspiration building in the airless socket, bacterial or fungal infections, pressure or friction.
Some common skin disorders include: general irritation or rashes; dermatitis or allergies related to cleaning agents, skin products or prosthetic materials; skin swelling; cysts resulting from rubbing of the prosthetic limb against skin; scar tissue due to wound healing; and, breakdowns resulting from bacterial infection.
Parents and children with limb difference should check the heath of the residual limb on a regular basis and a small hand mirror can be helpful to achieve this. Ingrown hairs can pose a problem for some teenagers with limb difference so it is recommended that your child not shave or wax their residual limb.
If you have any concerns with regard to the maintenance of healthy skin or experience any changes contact your doctor or Prosthetist immediately.
