Patient Information on a Prosthetic Leg

A prosthetic leg or lower-limb prosthesis is an artificial replacement that is provided to patients who have undergone an amputation of a portion of one or both legs. Use of a lower-limb prosthesis requires acclimation and training.

Amputation

• Amputation of a portion of the lower limb may become necessary due to vascular disease or trauma and less frequently due to congenital defects or tumors, according to HealthLine.

Types

• Drugs.com reports that lower-limb prosthesis generally come as either foot, below-the-knee, or above-the-knee types. While prosthetic legs with knee joints are designed for knee-like movement, foot/ankle prosthesis may be fixed or articulated (movable).

Rehab

• Learning to use a prosthetic leg, requires training that may include balance exercises, walking exercises and practicing tasks like kneeling. Healthline also reports that the use of a cane or crutches may still be necessary.

Risks

• There is an increased risk of falling with a prosthetic leg, but improper stump care poses a bigger risk. Without proper care, the skin of the stump may become inflamed and infected, which could require another amputation.

Prosthesis Care

• Like any other device, a prosthetic leg can become dirty--particularly where the stump fits together with the socket. The interior of the socket should be cleaned daily and dried immediately, reports Drugs.com.