Amputation Care & Phantom Limb Pain

After a limb amputation, priority nursing assessments include monitoring the residual limb (stump) for bleeding, signs of infection, and adequate perfusion, along with pain control that supports participation in mobility and rehabilitation. Residual limb positioning matters for preventing contractures: for a below-knee amputation, avoiding prolonged hip and knee flexion (such as extended sitting) helps prevent flexion contractures that would later interfere with prosthetic fitting; elevating the limb on a pillow is typically done only in the first 24 hours to reduce swelling, since prolonged elevation itself can encourage a hip flexion contracture. Residual limb wrapping (using an elastic bandage in a figure-eight pattern) helps shape the limb and reduce edema in preparation for a prosthesis, and the nurse teaches the patient proper wrapping technique for ongoing care.