common sense| Prosthetic Care and Maintenance

Lower limb amputees need to wear prostheses frequently. In order to maintain the normal function of the prostheses, make them easy to use and extend their lifespan, the following maintenance matters should be paid attention to on a daily basis

(1) Care and maintenance of the socket

(1) Keep the inner surface of the socket clean. The suction socket is in direct contact with the skin. If the inner surface of the socket is unclean, it will increase the risk of skin infection of the residual limb. Therefore, amputees should wipe down the inside of the socket every night before going to bed. Wipe with a hand towel soaked in light soapy water and then dry naturally. For electromechanical prosthetic limb sockets, water and humid air should be avoided and kept dry. The contact surface between the electrode and the skin is prone to dirt and rust, so care should be taken to keep its surface clean. Prevent malfunctions and short circuits easily caused by broken wires.                                                                                                                                     

(2) Pay attention to cracks in the socket. Small cracks may occur on the inner surface of the resin socket, sometimes causing damage to the skin of the residual limb. The ISNY socket is prone to splitting after cracks occur. At this time, when dirt adheres to the socket or the resin deteriorates, uneven scars will often appear on the smooth inner surface of the socket. Especially when this happens at the upper end of the inner wall of the thigh suction socket, it will injure the skin of the perineum, so special attention should be paid.

(3) When the socket feels loose, first add residual limb socks (no more than three layers) to solve the problem; if it is still too loose, stick a layer of felt on the four walls of the socket to solve the problem. If necessary, replace the socket with a new one.

(2) Care and maintenance of structural parts

(1) If the joints and connecting parts of the prosthesis become loose, it will affect the performance and cause noise. Therefore, the knee and ankle screws and the fixing screws and rivets of the belt should be checked frequently and tightened in time. When the metal shaft is inflexible or makes noise, add lubricating oil in time. After getting damp, it should be dried in time and filled with oil to prevent rust.

(2) The power supply electrical system of myoelectric prostheses should be protected from moisture, impact and sticky dirt. For complex and sophisticated electric prosthetic hands, you should seek professional maintenance personnel.                                                                                  

(3) When abnormal sound occurs, it indicates that the prosthetic parts are damaged. The cause should be found out in time, and appropriate repairs should be carried out. If necessary, go to the prosthetic rehabilitation center for repairs. Especially when using skeletal lower limb prostheses, their joints and connectors should be inspected and repaired in a timely manner. It is best to go to a prosthetic rehabilitation center for inspection regularly (such as once every three months).

(3) Maintenance of decorative coat

The front part of the knee joint of the foam decorative jacket of the skeletal thigh prosthesis is most likely to break. Users should pay attention to repair small breaks in time. It can be reinforced by pasting cloth strips on the inside to extend its service life as much as possible. In addition, if you wear short-waisted socks, the elastic band on the calf part of the socks may easily tear. Therefore, even if you wear a calf prosthesis, it is best to wear socks that are longer than the knee.

Taking the care and maintenance of electric prostheses as an example, the requirements are as follows:

① The prosthesis should not be overloaded during use to prevent damage to components;

② Those who do not understand the operation are not allowed to move;

③ Do not disassemble the parts casually;

④ If noise or abnormal noise is found in the mechanical part, detailed inspection, repair and replacement of parts should be carried out;

⑤ After one year of use, add lubricating oil to the transmission part and the rotating shaft;

⑥ The battery voltage must not be lower than 10V. If you find that the prosthesis slows down or cannot be started, you should charge it in time;

⑦ Prevent the electrical component connecting wires from crossing and kinking to avoid insulation damage, leakage or short circuit.

(4) In order to ensure the safe use of prostheses, it is recommended that prosthetic limb users have a follow-up examination once a year. If the prosthetic limb is faulty, it must be sent for repair in time and must not be disassembled by yourself.