Partial Foot

Below Knee

Above Knee

Hip Disarticulation

Upper Extremity

It’s important we are all speaking the same language to be sure we can solve any problems efficiently. Below is a brief description of what your prosthesis will be made up from. 

The Liner

• • The liner is the interface between your limb and the prosthesis. It’s made of a silicone or urethane elastomer and has several purposes. One is to provide some cushioning and protection to your residual limb. It reduces friction and shear forces on your limb. It is also often a connection point to secure the prosthesis in place. The liner should be washed daily and dried properly. Taking good care of your liner means taking good care of yourself! Talk with your prosthetist about any questions or concerns you have about your liner like how to put it on properly or how to store it when not in use. They are generally ordered to size but can be custom made if patient anatomy requires it.

The Socket

• • The socket is the hard outer shell that a patient puts on often over a liner. It connects all the components of the prosthesis to the patient. These are custom made starting with taking a cast or scan of the residual limb. Your prosthetist will determine the best process to do this and the socket is often fabricated in house. Typically a socket is made of carbon fiber, nylon, and acrylic resin. This is also where you can show your personality – we can put almost any image or design on a socket from making it your favorite color to pictures of your favorite pet!

The Prosthetic Knee

• • For patients with an amputation through or above the knee a prosthetic knee joint will be needed. There are a number of options when it comes to choosing the best knee for each patient. A conversation with your prosthetist about your abilities, your daily needs, and your recreational activities will help narrow down what prosthetic knee joint is right for you.

 The Prosthetic Foot

• • For patients with any amputation above the ankle joint will need a prosthetic foot. For the most part, choosing a foot option is straightforward, but for patients who have specific job duties or preferences your prosthetist will be able to incorporate your input in the foot choice.

Cosmetic Covers

• • Once a good prosthetic fit is achieved and a patient is comfortable walking we want to be sure they are comfortable with the appearance too. The transition from the prosthetic foot to the socket is not the same shape as the natural limb but BeaconOrtho is able to 3D print a cover that will attach to the prosthesis and create a limb shape that more resembles your other leg. These are traditionally made from hand carved foam which we also offer. 

The Shoe

• • The shoe you choose matters! Prosthetic feet are meant to be fit in a shoe. Most feet are built for a shoe with 12-18 mm (½” to ⅝”) of heel height. Changing shoes can affect the biomechanics of your prosthesis and could cause a fall! Talk to your prosthetist about adjusting to different shoes. The shoe also provides a foundation which all the forces between the prosthesis and the ground act through as well as protects the intact limb.

 What is a Shrinker?

• A Shrinker is a type of garment made with concentric elastic that is designed to help push and keep out excess fluid from your residual limb. They are used quickly after surgery to help reduce swelling, contain tissue, and speed the recovery process. It’s also a way to shape your limb and ready it for the prosthesis. The shrinker must be put on correctly being sure there are no wrinkles or overlapping areas because any areas that are not smooth can lead to excessive pressure and potential skin problems. Your clinician will teach you how to properly put on a shrinker.

 Prosthetic Socks

• Socks will be your best friend. We use prosthetics socks to help maintain and perfect the fit of your socket. A person’s limb size can and will change throughout the day for several reasons (fluid retention, diet, mornings vs. afternoons vs. evenings). While we might not notice it in everyday shoes, it will be very noticeable within a prosthetic socket. A prosthetic sock will be a tool you can use at home to adjust how the socket feels on your limb while you stand and walk. There are different thicknesses (or plys) of socks your prosthetist will provide. It will be your job to try combinations of socks until the socket feels just right. If you have trouble finding the right combination, give us a call! We can talk you through it over the phone, or have you come in to come up with a plan together.

 Daily Stretching to Prevent Contractures

• For persons who may have just undergone an amputation but want to get up and moving again the best thing you can do is maintain your fitness. Understanding a body needs rest to recover, we don’t mean big gym workouts or trail hikes. Just taking time to move out of a sitting position routinely and stretch your knees, hips, back, and arms will be really important to your future function. What can often happen when we sit for a long time is the muscles shorten and get stuck in that sitting position. So when we try to stand, our limbs cannot straighten and this makes wearing and walking with a prosthesis slightly more difficult. Laying on your tummy for short periods can help with hip flexion contractures. Straightening your knee regularly through the day, if not propped up consistently, will help prevent your knee from getting stuck in a bent position.

 Why Can I Still Feel My Foot? Phantom Limb Sensation and Pain

• It’s not uncommon for people with amputations to still feel the original limb. This feeling can vary from a simple ‘it’s still there’ to a toe/foot/leg that is seemingly twitching, itchy, burning, or hurting. It can be there all the time or start and stop at random times. Why it happens is still under investigation as not everyone has the same symptoms but it’s likely due to the nerve pathways that have been interrupted and the brain trying to process no longer getting information from the amputated limb; it will try to fill in the gaps of what is missing.

 Desensitization

• One way to limit the phantom limb sensation and pain is desensitization. This is a daily exercise of touching the residual limb with varying amounts of pressure, patterns, and textures. It’s a way to retrain the brain to the new reality of the shape and location of the residual limb so it stops trying to fill in the sensation itself. Talk with your prosthetist if you are struggling with phantom limb sensation.

My Doctor Calls it a “Stump”, Why Are You Calling it a Residual Limb?

• The term ‘stump’ while not incorrect is a bit antiquated and we feel doesn’t lend itself well to the patient centered picture BeaconOrtho would like to maintain. With the goal in mind to help a person with an amputation actualize their new normals, we feel that ‘Residual Limb’ provides this wholly. But that’s our perspective and we’re here to support you. It’s often that people with amputation come up with their own term they feel comfortable with (Nub, Little Leg, Short Leg, etc). Let us know so we can be sure to honor that.

 Why Can I Still Feel My Foot? Phantom Limb Sensation and Pain

• It’s not uncommon for people with amputations to still feel the original limb. This feeling can vary from a simple ‘it’s still there’ to a toe/foot/leg that is seemingly twitching, itchy, burning, or hurting. It can be there all the time or start and stop at random times. Why it happens is still under investigation as not everyone has the same symptoms but it’s likely due to the nerve pathways that have been interrupted and the brain trying to process no longer getting information from the amputated limb; it will try to fill in the gaps of what is missing.

 Desensitization

• One way to limit the phantom limb sensation and pain is desensitization. This is a daily exercise of touching the residual limb with varying amounts of pressure, patterns, and textures. It’s a way to retrain the brain to the new reality of the shape and location of the residual limb so it stops trying to fill in the sensation itself. Talk with your prosthetist if you are struggling with phantom limb sensation.

 Daily Stretching to Prevent Contractures

• For persons who may have just undergone an amputation but want to get up and moving again the best thing you can do is maintain your fitness. Understanding a body needs rest to recover, we don’t mean big gym workouts or trail hikes. Just taking time to move out of a sitting position routinely and stretch your knees, hips, back, and arms will be really important to your future function. What can often happen when we sit for a long time is the muscles shorten and get stuck in that sitting position. So when we try to stand, our limbs cannot straighten and this makes wearing and walking with a prosthesis slightly more difficult. Laying on your tummy for short periods can help with hip flexion contractures. Straightening your knee regularly through the day, if not propped up consistently, will help prevent your knee from getting stuck in a bent position.

 Residual Limb Hygiene

• Immediately after amputation follow the instructions from your physician’s team on how to care for your residual limb and incision.

 Daily Skin Inspections

• If you are not already in the habit of daily checks over all extremities you’ll want to start. Any redness that lasts for longer than 20 minutes needs careful observation. Whether it’s from a sock line or ingrown hair, we don’t want a small spot to become a big problem.
• Using a hand mirror can help look in hard to see areas or recruiting a friend or partner to help may be a good idea.

 Why Can’t I Shave My Residual Limb?

• Shaving your Residual Limb can lead to a host of problems. It puts you at increased risk for infection from microcuts, open cuts, and ingrown hairs. Because a liner is used in almost all prostheses this creates a warm, moist environment where if there is introduction of bacteria it would be easy for it to become a problem. Infection would need the attention of your physician and likely you’ll need to keep your prosthesis off until everything is healed.

 What Do I Do If Something Doesn’t Look Right?

• Please reach out if there are any areas of concern. It’s easier to call than worry