Taking care of your limb, liner, and prosthesis is essential for maintaining mobility and preventing complications. While various healthcare professionals may have assisted in your amputation recovery journey, actively participating in your rehabilitation is vital. Remember, these guidelines provide general advice, and individual needs can vary. Always follow your healthcare provider's recommendations and don't hesitate to reach out if you experience discomfort, pain, or have any questions regarding your care and recovery.

Your prosthesis, silicone liner and residual limb require consistent care and maintenance to prevent breakdown or injury. Poor hygiene can lead to skin irritations and injuries. This can cause infections and other issues that may impair or even preclude a person from wearing their prosthesis.

Regularly cleaning your residual limb, liner and prosthetic socket can reduce the risk of germination and protect your sensitive skin from inflammation and infection. Good hygiene also protects the lifespan of your devices.

Here are some recommended procedures for regular care of your residual limb, liner and prosthesis including:

• Residual limb care
• Liner care
• Prosthesis care⁠ - socket & textile components

Good hygiene is essential to prevent skin irritations and injuries. Regular cleaning can protect your skin from inflammation and infection, extending the lifespan of your prosthetic devices. By following these steps, you can maintain the natural properties and functions of your skin, despite the stress and friction from your prosthesis. Regular care will help you stay comfortable and healthy.

• Regularly Check Your Residual Limb

Use a mirror to inspect your residual limb from every angle.

Initially, check your residual limb whenever you change your dressing or remove your prosthesis.

Later, a daily inspection after washing your residual limb should suffice.

• Clean Your Residual Limb:

Wearing a prosthetic leg impacts your skin due to the pressure from liners and sockets, which can lead to irritation and bacteria buildup. Keeping your skin clean daily is essential.

1. Clean daily with a mild soap (pH neutral) or a special cleansing lotion.
2. Apply a moisturizing cream each evening, preferably at bedtime, to prevent dryness and promote skin regeneration. For example, you can use Iceross Clean & Simple Moisturizing Lotion from Össur.
3. By incorporating these practices into your daily routine, you can ensure your skin remains healthy and your prosthesis functions optimally.

You can think of your liner like a sock. The liner wraps around your sensitive residual limb and comes in direct contact with bacteria. Therefore, you should clean the liner after each wear or daily, by hand, and at least once a week in the washing machine.   

For Handwashing:

1. Roll the liner off of your residual limb.
2. Turn the liner inside-out so that the silicone that is typically on the inside is outside.
3. Thoroughly wash the silicone side with a mild (pH neutral) soap or with a special liner cleaner.
4. Rinse off the soap entirely so there is no residue.
5. Dry the liner inside and out with a towel.
6. Turn the liner back to its normal form so the silicone is on the inside and clean the outside with a damp cloth.
7. Hang up the liner to dry completely. Never put it on directly on a heater and avoid direct sunlight.

For Machine Washing:

1. Place the liner in a laundry bag.
2. If the manufacturer's specifications of your products allow, machine wash your liner in warm or hot (104oF) water.
3. Use a mild detergent and choose the gentlest cycle your machine offers.
4. Dry the liner inside and out with a towel.
5. Turn the liner back to its normal form so the silicone is on the inside and clean the outside with a damp cloth.
6. Hang up the liner to dry completely. Never put it on directly on a heater and avoid direct sunlight.

Tip: having a second liner allows you to change the liner daily, making daily cleaning much easier and allowing for adequate drying time. If you do not currently have a backup liner, ask your prosthetist for advice.

Socket and Textile Components

Thanks to the innovation of prosthetic liners, the sensitive skin of your residual limb is unlikely to come into direct contact with your prosthetic socket. However, maintaining cleanliness is crucial for your health and the longevity of your prosthesis.

Key Components

• Prosthetic Liner: The silicone liner you roll onto your residual limb.
• Socket: The hard top part of the prosthesis that fits your residual limb with the liner.
• Socks: Sometimes used with the liner to compensate for changes in the volume of the residual limb.

Cleaning Your Prosthetic Socket

• Weekly Cleaning: If your residual limb does not sit directly within the socket (i.e., you use a liner), clean your socket at least once a week.
• Daily Cleaning: If your residual limb sits directly within the socket without a liner interface (e.g., vacuum suction), clean your socket daily.

Steps to Clean Your Prosthetic Socket:

1. Clean with water and pH neutral soap, then leave it to dry.
2. Disinfect with an alcohol spray.

Cleaning Textile Components

• Frequency: Wash other textile components of your prosthesis at least 2-3 times a week, following the product specifications also known as instructions for use.
• Method: If allowed, machine wash your liner in warm or hot water (40°C) using a mild detergent and the gentlest cycle available.

By regularly checking and cleaning your prosthetic components, you can ensure they remain in good working order and your skin stays healthy. Regular care helps maintain the natural properties and functions of your skin, despite the stress and friction from your prosthesis.

If you have difficulties putting on (also known as donning) your liner or do not know exactly how to do it, you may find these tips helpful:

1. Make sure that the inside of the liner is clean, dry, and contains nothing that may cause skin irritation.
2. Roll your liner inside out and hold it as shown in this illustration picture. Your goal is to create a surface as flat as possible.
3. Place the liner flat at the end of the residual limb. Make sure that the liner is as close to the residual limb as possible. Avoid trapping air at the far (distal) end of your residual limb.
4. Push the liner carefully over the end of the residual limb, making sure there are no creases. Then roll the liner completely upwards onto your residual limb. Be careful not to damage the liner with your fingernails. It is important that throughout this process, you roll and do not pull on the liner.
5. Gently pat the liner. Avoid "plucking" the liner as this can cause increased tension on the liner edge and underlying skin (this can create water blisters, welts, or similar symptoms). If there are wrinkles when tightening, please unroll your liner and repeat the donning process.
6. If you are using a non-textile liner, such as Iceross® Original, [link to Iceross product page]), you may use special pull-on sprays that make it easier to unroll the liner and put on. Apply the spray to the OUTER SIDE of the liner, roll it over and then roll it up the residual limb. Then, after rolling the liner up, wipe off the remaining spray. If you choose to use a spray, make sure that the agent is not harmful to the liner or the silicone of the liner. For this reason, it is best to use only sprays recommended by the manufacturer of your liner, such as the  Iceross Clean & Simple Dressing Spray by Össur,  or ask your prosthetist for their recommendation on which spray to use.