SUBSTANDARD Amputation Surgery + Above Knee AMPUTEE follow-up + custom prosthetic lamination

[@michellehill5285]

LOVE the Tasmanian Devil leg.

[@TheLegLady]

Thank you! The patient loved them as well!

[@michellehill5285]

Yeah, no going to the ground.

[@user-jh7cq3ct6u]

Have you ever heard of above knee amputation where the surgeon folds the flesh over and behind the knee and patient gets a prosthetic leg successfully without pain? Is this common? I know of someone who can't wear prosthetic leg because flesh was pushing nerves on leg. Most pics I see, the scar is at bottom of surgery cut. Not behind leg. Pls reply anyone

[@TheLegLady]

There is a surgical technique (Gritti-Stokes amputation) that keeps the knee cap and does a posterior flap so the incision/scar would be on the back of the leg. Depending on how the surgery was done, tissue could have moved more to the back over time or the surgeon may decide to do the incision more towards the back depending on what tissues/muscles were damaged or had good/poor bloodflow. When it comes to pain wearing the prosthesis often times there are multiple factors. Surgeons typically cut the nerves while they are under tension so they retract and are not near the end of the limb, but they can still be sensitive and cause pain in a prosthesis.

[@amyvicente8241]

I hope I get to walking soon! How tight should my prosthetic be? Mine is so tight I can barely get it on and sometimes I can’t get it on. I just don’t know what should feel normal because this is my first one. I don’t feel like my doctor or prosthetic guy is very helpful or informative 😢😩

[@TheLegLady]

Hey! Sorry to hear you haven't been able to get much information. I know that can be frustrating, especially with your first prosthesis and not knowing what to expect. Without seeing you or the prosthesis it is difficult to give any definitive answers but some things to be mindful of . . 1. If your amputation surgery was recent you may still have some swelling that will go down with time and with prosthetic use. 2. When it comes to fit, it should be a snug and intimate fit but it should not be painful. The goal with fitting a prosthesis is to have an intimate fit that distributes pressure over the whole limb so there is not excessive pressure in any one area, especially areas that are more sensitive to pressure. 3. It is also important to keep in mind if there are any medical conditions that may impact blood flow or fluid retention. (I have some patients that if they eat a bag of salty chips before bed, they can have swelling and difficulty getting their leg on the next morning.) 4. Also, the time of day you are putting the leg on can have an impact as well. For below knee amputees, if they are sitting in a chair for a while with their limb hanging down gravity will pull fluid to the area making the prosthesis more difficult to put on. One solution may be, is to wear a shrinker at night to help manage volume especially in the beginning. If you don't have one already, your prosthesist should be able to get you a set. I hope there is something helpful and useful for you in all that information and wishing you the best on your journey! Let me know if you have any additional questions!

[@tiffanyharders810]

Drives me crazy when I see the results of subpar amputation surgeries 😠😠😠

[@TheLegLady]

I know! 😔

[@michellehill5285]

Me too!