What is amputation and how to prepare for a first prosthesis?

An amputation is a surgical procedure in which part of the body, usually a (part of a) arm or leg, is removed. This procedure is usually performed for medical reasons, such as serious injuries, infections, tumours, diabetes, poor circulation or to create a better amputation level after a congenital defect.  For many people, an amputation marks the beginning of a new phase in their lives, where you have to learn to cope with your changed body. It is also important to prepare well for using a first prosthesis. At Amputee Care Center, we are happy to help you with this.

What is amputation?

Amputation means the surgical removal of a body part. Amputations are most common on the limbs, such as arm amputations and leg amputations. In this regard, hand amputations, foot amputations and finger amputations are also common.

In general, we can distinguish amputations into major amputations and minor amputations. By a large amputation we mean that a large part of a limb is removed, such as a lower arm, lower leg or upper leg. A small amputation means that only a small part of a limb is removed, such as a toe, finger, hand or foot. 

Also read: Why an amputation?

Mental and emotional preparation for your amputation

An amputation is not only physically, but also mentally and emotionally taxing. It is quite normal to have feelings of sadness, loss or even anger after, but also before an amputation. Especially in children and adolescents, in our experience, it can be difficult to give those feelings a place.

Amputee Care Center's prosthetists and psychologists are there for you throughout the process for mental and emotional support. We will help you process your feelings, prepare for the upcoming adjustments and the use of a prosthesis. It is a good idea to contact us even before your amputation, preferably as soon as a possible amputation is discussed. We offer a special free pre-operative introductory consultation for this purpose.

Preparation for first-time prosthesis wearing

After amputation, physical preparation for wearing a prosthesis for the first time begins. Preparation for wearing a prosthesis after amputation consists of three parts:

1. Wound care: It is important to have the amputation wound properly cared for with compression therapy to make the stump oedema-free. At Amputee Care Center, you get your own personal attendant who is always there for you and helps the nurses in the hospital to give the right compression therapy. 
2. Stump training: The stump, the remaining part of the limb, should be prepared for wearing a first prosthesis. This may include muscle exercises to improve strength or flexibility, as well as exercises to get used to the pressure and contact of a first prosthesis.
3. Phantom pain: Phantom pain is unfortunately common. This is a sensation where it seems like your amputated limb is still there and hurting. At Amputee Care Center, we offer total care with healthcare partners to help reduce this pain. Hypnosis can help with phantom limb pain, which makes wearing a prosthesis easier. 

Choosing your first prosthesis: an important decision

Choose a prosthetist who inspires confidence. After all, your first prosthesis should last several years, and the bond with your prosthetist is an important part of this. An accurate fit is essential for comfort and functionality. In addition, good communication with the prosthetist plays a crucial role in adapting the prosthesis to your specific needs and lifestyle. Sometimes you will be assigned a prosthetist by the hospital or your doctor. Of course, you can also choose another prosthetist. Patients have freedom of choice and it is best to decide for themselves with whom they prefer to work, because a ‘good click’ with your prosthetist and his team is the first step towards a successful first prosthesis.

You can make an appointment at the Amputee Care Center for a second opinion so that you can make an informed decision about having your first prosthesis made and the overall care of the prosthetics team involved. 

Choosing a prosthesis

It is important to choose the right prosthesis to suit you. Here, for example, the type of amputation is important, but also your lifestyle and your personal goals. Consult with your prosthetist to choose the best option for your situation. The specialists at Amputee Care Center will guide you in choosing the right prosthesis and assist you during rehabilitation and afterwards. The bond with your prosthesis centre is often lifelong. Make sure you choose a team of experts you feel comfortable with. 

Rehabilitation amputation

A few weeks after amputation of an arm, hand, finger, leg or foot, the rehabilitation process and training with your new prosthesis begins. Rehabilitation after amputation can be intense and difficult, but it is important to persevere in order to learn to function well with your new prosthesis. During your rehabilitation, the team at Amputee Care Center will assist you to get maximum benefit from prosthesis use.

At Amputee Care Center, we do not focus on the loss of a limb, but rather on how to be happy again and move forward in life. Our main goal is to improve your quality of life after amputation. This means, among other things, that we will guide you in integrating the prosthesis into your daily routine to regain full independence. We can also assist you in sports, from amateur to the Paralympic Games! 

Prosthesis maintenance is free of charge

Wearing a prosthesis requires care and maintenance. It is therefore important to make regular appointments with your prosthetist at Amputee Care Center to adjust the prosthesis to your changing needs. It is also important to continue taking good care of your stump to avoid complications such as skin irritation or infections.

Annual prosthesis maintenance at the ACC Amputation and Prosthetic Care Center is free of charge because it is essential for the life and functionality of the prosthesis. Regular maintenance helps identify and correct problems early, providing comfort and safety for the prosthesis wearer. Adjusting your prosthesis properly promotes comfort and prevents expensive repairs or replacement in the long run, ultimately saving costs. Annual check-ups and maintenance at the ACC are also free for prostheses made elsewhere.

Amputation care starts at the Amputee Care Center

The Amputee Care Center is a specialised prosthesis centre at various locations with headquarters in Belgian Limburg, near the border triangle of Belgium - Netherlands - Germany. The headquarters in Genk has its own design workshop for making innovative arm, hand, finger, upper leg, lower leg and foot prostheses, with its own 3D printing lab, direct socket fitting lab, bionic prosthesis department and gait analysis centre. We provide holistic total care to adults and children with amputations. 

The Amputee Care Center is an independent company specialising in fitting and maintenance of arm prostheses and leg prostheses, rehabilitation counselling, and offering psychological and lifestyle advice to prosthesis wearers. Expertise in designing innovative and unique custom-made prostheses and providing comprehensive aftercare makes the Amputee Care Center a leading prosthesis centre for prosthesis wearers from Belgium and the Netherlands and partner of several rehabilitation centres. 

The Amputee Care Center is a Smart Focus Factory of Spronken Group and has specialised in manufacturing unique custom-made prostheses for over 60 years. The advanced manufacturing facility focuses on producing specific prostheses using smart technologies and optimised processes. The prosthesis concept combines automation, digitisation, and data analysis to produce more efficiently, with a strong emphasis on quality and optimisation for the prosthesis wearer. The Amputee Care Center carries an official international quality label and is an ISO-13485 certified business unit of Spronken.