About this topic
Above-the-knee amputation is a surgery to remove the leg above the knee. This is done when: ‚
- Your leg was injured and cannot be repaired
- You have an infection in the leg that may spread if not removed
- Blood flow to your leg is very poor
- There is a tumor on your knee or lower leg
- Your leg is deformed and you have problems walking or pain when walking
The doctor will decide where the cut needs to be on the leg based on your condition. ‚
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What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do.
- Talk to your doctor about how to care for your cut site. Ask your doctor about:
- When you should change your bandages
- When you may take a bath or shower
- When you may go back to your normal activities like work or driving
- Be sure to wash your hands before and after touching your wound or dressing .
- Check the stump often. Look for signs of infection, such as more drainage, redness, swelling, or pain. If you have trouble seeing the back of your stump, use a mirror to see it.
- Avoid putting weight on your stump until it is fully healed.
- Wear your compression sock to help form your stump to fit your artificial leg.
- Do your exercises as ordered by your physical therapist. These will help you get stronger. They will make it easier to wear and use your prosthesis.
- Do not smoke. Smoking can lessen blood flow and delay healing.
What follow-up care is needed?
- Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits.
- If you have stitches or staples, you will need to have them taken out. Your doctor will often want to do this in 1 to 2 weeks.
- Your doctor may send you to rehab where you will learn to move around safely and get stronger before you go home.
- The doctor may set up a visit with a specialist called a prosthetist. The prosthetist will begin fittings for your artificial leg about 8 to 12 weeks after your surgery. This will happen when your amputation wound is almost healed or when there is less pain in your stump.
- Your doctor will refer you to a rehab specialist to teach you how to walk with your artificial leg once you get it.
- Your doctor may send you to a counselor for talk therapy to help you cope with the loss of your leg.
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Help with pain and swelling
- Prevent infection
- Prevent blood clots
Will physical activity be limited?
You may not be able to do certain activities while your cut site is healing. Once you have your prosthetic leg, you should be able to do most of the things you did before your surgery. ‚
What problems could happen?
- Infection
- Slow healing of the wound
- Swelling of the stump
- Bleeding
- Blood clots
- Painful feeling that the leg is still there. This is phantom pain.
- Pneumonia or an infection in the lungs
- Low mood or worry
- Body image problems
- Need for more surgery
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Signs of infection. These include a fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills, cough, more sputum or change in color of sputum, or wound that will not heal.
- Signs of wound infection. These include swelling, redness, warmth around the wound; too much pain when touched; yellowish, greenish, or bloody discharge; foul smell coming from the cut site; cut site opens up.
- Pain that you cannot control with the drugs you have been given
- Increased stump swelling
- Poorly-fitting artificial leg. This would include the artificial leg being too loose or too tight or new sores or areas of redness caused by the artificial leg. This is often referred to the prosthetist rather than the doctor.
- Low mood
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my procedure.
- I can tell you how to care for my cut site.
- I can tell you how to care for my stump.
- I can tell you what I will do if I have a fever or swelling, redness, or drainage from my wound.
Where can I learn more?
Amputee Coalition ‚
http://www.amputee-coalition.org/inmotion/jan_feb_11/first_twelve_months_lower.pdf ‚
NHS Choices ‚
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Amputation/Pages/Introduction.aspx ‚
Society of Vascular Surgery ‚
http://www.vascularweb.org/vascularhealth/Pages/Amputation.aspx ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
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Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚