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Instructions for Prosthesis Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting

In order to wear your new prosthetic limb successfully, proper care of all the components is crucial. Remember, as a new amputee, the shape and volume of your limb will most likely change over the next few months/year. The following prosthesis care instructions and troubleshooting are provided as a tool to help ensure your success. If you encounter issues or have questions that are not addressed here, do not hesitate to contact our office for guidance or to set up an appointment. We are always happy to help!

All Prosthetic Systems

Below Knee

Above Knee

For All Prosthetic Systems

Care of Silicone Liner

Our liners are fabricated with platinum-cured silicone, designed for comfort and performance. Healthy skin inside the silicone liner is essential for wearing a prosthesis successfully, so it’s important to cleanse your skin before donning it. Correspondingly, it is important to rinse or cleanse the liner after each use.

  1. As you roll down your liner to remove it, turn it completely inside-out.
  2. Rinse with warm water and small amounts of mild (not antibacterial) soap often, skin irritations can be traced to soap residue that is left on the liner, so if you do use soap, be sure to rinse thoroughly.
  3. Hang on a stand (some people use a tabletop paper towel holder) or lay on a clean, flat surface to dry.

 

Prosthetic Sock Sizes and Identification

You will receive a supply of prosthetic socks with varying thicknesses to manage the fit of your prosthesis. If the socket feels loose, you may add a ply and if it feels tight, you might reduce a ply. A 3-ply sock generally has a yellow stripe on the top and a 5-ply sock has a green stripe, but may vary by manufacturer. Following is a list and description of the socks typically used by POA:.

Nylon Sheath – tan or white in color; equivalent to ½ ply
1-Ply: white, lightweight
2-Ply: white
3-Ply: white with yellow stripe at top
5-Ply: white with green stripe at top

Below Knee - BK

Donning Prosthesis

  1. Apply lubricant to your residual limb as needed, paying special attention to areas with scars or invaginations.
  2. Make sure the liner is turned inside-out.
  3. Place the bottom of liner directly against the end of your residual limb and roll it completely up. Hint: Spraying some isopropyl alcohol on the outside of your liner (not the side that fits against your skin) will make it roll up very easily.
  4. Check to ensure that there are no wrinkles/folds or trapped air inside the liner.
  5. Place a prosthetic sock over the liner and slide your limb into the socket.
  6. Roll the suspension sleeve up to create a seal. Sock length should be adjusted to allow no less than 1-1/2 to 2 inches of seal between liner and sleeve.
  7.  For those patients using a vacuum pump: Use pump to create vacuum. You should not feel any pulling or pain while using the pump. If you do, remove the prosthesis and try adding/removing socks and adjusting the location of silicone spots as necessary until comfortable. If you continue to feel pulling or pain when using the pump, wear the prosthesis without vacuum and contact our office for assistance

Troubleshooting

If you are experiencing any pain or discomfort, we encourage you to contact our office immediately for advice and guidance. However, there are a few things you could try at home before contacting us:

  1. Pain at bottom of limb. (try in this order)
    1. Check socks to see if you need to add one (socket can spin around sock easily).
    2. If not, check to see if the opposite is true (you are not getting all the way into the socket). To do this, place a small amount of putty in the bottom of your socket and don it as usual. Stand on the prosthesis for a few minutes, then remove it. Check the state of the putty: if it’s been compressed, you are getting all the way into the socket; if it’s not compressed, you are NOT getting all the way into the socket and should reduce the number of socks (or ply of socks) you are currently wearing. In absence of putty, you can apply a good amount of bright colored lipstick on the bottom of the sock and follow the above instructions. If you can see the impression of the lipstick on the bottom you are getting all the way into your socket; if not, try removing a sock. 
    3. Try adding a silicone spot or mole skin a few inches above the area that is hurting. The silicone spot would be placed against the liner, inside the sock; the moleskin would be placed directly on the inside of the socket.
    4. If that doesn’t relieve the pain, try cutting a 1-ply sock to a short length, slice a “cap,” and place that on top of the original sock. 
    5. If pain continues, call our office for assistance as soon as possible.

 

  1. Not holding a vacuum..
    1. Make sure the sock is not pulled too high over the top of the socket.
    2. Check the vacuum tube by placing the cut end on your tongue and sucking on it to see if it sticks. If not, check for visible nicks/and or cracks and cut the tube at that point.
    3. If still no vacuum, try blowing very hard into the cut end of the tube/valve. Sometimes the valve can stick due to weather conditions, dust, etc.

New Patient Instructions: POA Double-Wall Above Knee System

The following step-by-step instructions are provided as a tool to help ensure your comfort and success with your new prosthesis! Remember that the shape and condition of your limb will most likely change over the next few months, so some adjustments to sock ply, etc., may need to be made. If you encounter any issues with the fit or function of your prosthesis, please do not hesitate to contact us for advice.

Putting Your Prosthesis On

  1. Apply lubricant to your residual limb as needed, paying special attention to areas with scars
    or invaginations.
  2. Before you put the liner on, make sure it is turned inside-out.
  3. Place the bottom of the liner directly against the bottom of your residual limb and roll it
    completely up. Hint: Spraying isopropyl alcohol on the outside of your liner (not the side
    next to your skin) will help it roll on easier.
  4. Check to be sure that any trapped air inside the liner is evacuated and that there are no
    wrinkles or folds.
  5. Place a prosthetic sock over the liner and slide your limb into the inner cup. A sealing sleeve,
    which is attached to the inner cup, is then rolled up to seal against the liner.
  6. The outer socket (with the knee and foot attached) is placed over the inner cup.
  7. Stand up (or stay seated if standing is not an option) and lock the two pieces together with a
    locking pin. Putting weight on the prosthesis will expel any air, and make it easier to insert
    the pin.

Caring for Your Silicone Liner

You may rinse or cleanse your liner as needed. We recommend that if you do use cleanser, that you choose a mild soap that is not antibacterial. Often, skin irritations can be traced to soap residue that is left on the liner, so be sure to rinse thoroughly. Allow your liner to air dry inside-out on a stand of some sort. A paper towel holder (counter-top model) works very well for this purpose.

If you notice any nicks or tears on the trim line of your liner, you should carefully use scissors to cut them out to prevent them from spreading further.

Call our office if you experience any of the following skin issues: redness, itching or irritation lasting longer than 30 minutes after removal of your prosthesis; formation of blisters; excessively rough or hardened area of skin.

Troubleshooting

If you are experiencing any pain or discomfort, we encourage you to contact our office immediately for advice and guidance. However, there are a few things you could try at home before contacting us:

Pulling or burning sensation inside your liner:

If at any time during the day you experience a pulling or burning sensation inside your liner, remove it and apply more lubricant. This is especially important when the liner is new.

Pain at bottom of limb:

  • Use your clear diagnostic check socket to determine whether you need to add or remove socks. If the socket spins around easily, try adding a sock. If there is a large gap at the bottom, try removing a sock.
  • If discomfort continues, call our office for assistance as soon as possible

 

Not holding suction:

  • Make sure the sock is not pulled too high over the top of your inner cup. You want to have as much contact as possible between the liner and sealing sock.
  • Check tube on end of expulsion valve by placing the cut end on your tongue and sucking on it to see if it sticks. In it doesn’t, check for visible nicks/and or cracks and cut tube at that point.
  • If still no suction, try blowing very hard into cut end of the tube/valve. Sometimes the valve can stick due to weather conditions, dust, etc.

Prosthetic & Orthotic Associates
3160 Southgate Commerce Blvd #38
Orlando, FL 32806

Phone: (407) 245-7770
Fax: (407) 245-7727
Toll-Free: (800) 745-2556
Email: [email protected]

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