How do you treat a stump blister?
Treatment – check prosthetic fit, protect (do not burst) blister, and cover with very thin sterile dressing such as Telfa. If the blister has opened on its own, keep it clean and covered, and consult with a nurse for recommendation of the most appropriate treatment.
What is stump trauma?
Stump problems (SPs) are very common complications in patients, who have suffered from traumatic amputation, and often impede prosthetic fitting and weight-bearing [1]. SPs include stump skin scar or ulcer, delayed wound healing, excess soft tissues, prominent bone under skin, and stump pain caused by spurs or neuroma.
How do amputation wounds heal?
During surgery, the wound will have been closed with stitchs (sutures) or staples. Your residual limb may be covered by a cast or splint. Or another type of pressure dressing may be used, such as soft gauze covered by a tight bandage.
What happens if amputation doesn’t heal?
Patients are often extremely debilitated, with multiple co-existing cardiovascular risk factors. The prognosis following amputation is poor: nearly a third of unilateral amputees lose the other limb within three years and half of them will die within five years [30].
What are signs of infection of a stump?
Check your stump carefully every day for signs of infection, such as:
- warm, red and tender skin.
- discharge of fluid or pus.
- increasing swelling.
What does an infected amputation look like?
Sores and infections from amputations Watch for signs of infection: increasing redness around the sore, pus or discharge, increased pain, foul odor. If you notice any signs, seek medical help immediately. The quicker an infection is spotted and treated, the lesser the risk of developing sepsis.
What is the medical term for a stump?
residual limb: The portion of the arm or leg remaining after an amputation, sometimes referred to as a stump or residuum.
How do you clean a wound after amputation?
Use soap and water on a gauze pad or a clean cloth to wash your wound. Start at one end of the wound and clean it to the other end. Be sure to wash away any drainage or dried blood. Do not scrub the wound hard.
How long do amputation wounds take to heal?
After surgery, the wound from an amputation may take one or two months to heal. A patient will probably stay in the hospital for up to two weeks, provided there are no complications. Amputees who get prostheses, or artificial limbs, may be able to start using their prostheses as soon as a week after their operation.
Can an infected wound lead to amputation?
Left untreated, an infection can damage the tissue, muscle, arteries and bone surrounding the wound. There are situations where an infection in a wound or ulcer has become so severe that it threatens a person’s health and an amputation might be considered.
What is stump in human body?
After an amputation, the bit that’s left beyond a healthy joint is called a residual limb, or more commonly, a stump. People born without all or part of an arm or leg, are said instead to have a limb difference.
How do you wrap a stump dressing?
Figure: Place the end of the bandage just above his knee and wrap it down the side of his stump, over the end, then back up the other side to above the knee. Avoid wrinkling the bandage throughout the wrapping process. Turn the bandage horizontally and circle it around his leg to secure both sides.