Prosthetic Care | Why prosthetics shouldn't be worn for too long

(1) Keep the surface of the receiving chamber clean. The receiving chamber is in direct contact with the skin. If the surface of the receiving chamber is not cleaned for a long time, it will increase the risk of residual limb infection. Users should regularly clean their residual limbs, wipe the inner wall of the receiving chamber frequently, and maintain dryness and cleanliness. The internal receiving cavity (soft receiving cavity) of the calf prosthesis can be cleaned with warm water, and the water temperature should not be too hot to avoid deformation. Correctly select and clean residual limb socks, choose cotton or wool residual limb socks with good water absorption, and regularly wash the socks with alkaline soap. Limb socks should be changed at least once a day, and even more frequently when sweating. (2) When there is an injury to the residual limb, especially the lower limbs, the use of prosthetics should be stopped, because the wound on the residual limb is difficult to heal when using lower limb prosthetics to bear weight, often causing the wound to gradually enlarge and cause infection, resulting in long-term inability to wear prosthetics. Therefore, minor injuries should also be treated seriously and promptly cured. During the treatment of residual limb wounds, patients should be guided to make a decision not to wear prostheses and to repair the parts that are not compatible with the receiving cavity to prevent the wound from recurring. In addition, when abnormalities such as eczema, blisters, cysts, tinea albuginea, dermatitis, and discoloration and swelling of the residual limb skin are found, timely symptomatic treatment should be given to prevent infection.

(3) Regular attention should be paid to whether there are small cracks on the upper edge of the receiving cavity, and timely detection and repair by a prosthetic technician can prolong the service life of the prosthetic.

(4) Regularly pay attention to whether there is any abnormal noise from the prosthetic while walking. If it is found, it indicates that some joint components or joints are damaged or loose, and should be repaired in a timely manner.

(5) Plastic parts in prosthetic structures should not come into contact with acid, alkali, fire, colored solutions, or hard foreign objects to prevent corrosion, staining, melting, and cracking.

(6) Decorative jackets are prone to breakage. If users find small damages, they can repair them to extend their service life.

(7) When changing shoes for lower limb prosthetics, pay attention to the height of the heel of the shoe and do not wear shoes with different heel heights, because the alignment of the lower limb prosthesis is directly related to the heel height of the shoes worn by the amputee. If shoes with different heel heights are worn compared to those designed during the production of prosthetics, it can cause improper alignment of the prosthetic, leading to knee flexion or buckling.

(8) The outer packaging and footboard of lower limb prostheses should be waterproof. In case of accidental water sticking, the socks and shoes should be changed immediately, and wet areas should be dried with a hair dryer before use.

(9) For the electrical and precision mechanical systems in prosthetic structures, moisture, impact, and dirt should be avoided, and professional personnel should be regularly consulted for inspection and maintenance.

(10) Regular inspection and maintenance: Generally, a comprehensive inspection and maintenance of the prosthetic should be carried out at the prosthetic manufacturing institution every six months or one year, which is important for extending the service life of the prosthetic.