In the period immediately following amputation surgery, the medical personnel will be in charge of making sure the wound heals correctly and completely, telling you exactly what you need to do.
Once past the post-operative phase, you will be fitted with a prosthesis. You will need to follow a few simple directions during your daily hygiene routine to make sure the skin of the limb remains healthy:
If you have specific needs, your orthopedic therapist and/or technician will provide you with further instructions on keeping your limb healthy.
TAKING CARE OF YOUR ALPS PROSTHETIC LINERS AND SLEEVES
The steps to take to keep your Alps prosthetic sleeves or liners clean are simple but fundamental. Keeping the liner clean is essential for avoiding problems further down the line.
We recommend an additional weekly cleaning (or daily, if your skin is particularly oily) with an alcohol-soaked soft cloth. Carefully wipe the entire interior surface of the liner with the cloth and then thoroughly dry with a clean towel.
To clean the fabric exterior of the sleeve or liner, wash it by hand or in the washing machine at a low temperature with prosthetic detergent PD595.
A LITTLE CARE GOES A LONG WAY TOWARDS MAKING YOUR PROSTHETIC SLEEVE OR LINER LAST A LONG TIME
Let’s take a look at some simple things you can do to increase the lifespan of your Alps prosthetic sleeve or liner:
SWEAT AND GREASY SKIN
During the first 2-6 weeks of using a prosthetic liner, you may experience an increase in perspiration. This effect will gradually disappear.
Should your level of perspiration be particularly intense in the first weeks of wearing a prosthesis, it is advisable to give your body time to get used to wearing it gradually, limiting the number of consecutive hours you wear it and slowing increasing this time as your skin adapts.
You can also regulate your perspiration by using our specific antiperspirant lotion designed for amputees, ALPS ATP008 whether during those first weeks or any time you don the prosthesis afterward.
If it is used in combination with a lotion designed to ease donning the liner (for example our SL108), first apply the ATP008 antiperspirant lotion followed by the SL108 skin lotion.