Managing Skin Issues with Prosthetic Use

Identifying and Managing Skin Issues with Lower-Limb Prosthetic Use

by M. Jason Highsmith, DPT, CP, FAAOP,
James T. Highsmith, MD, and Jason T.
Kahle, CPO

Fitting a prosthesis is complicated because parts of the human body are used for tasks for which they are not designed. The skin/prosthesis interface is at fault for many complications. Here, a synthetic material, such as silicone or plastic, is in constant contact with the skin. Skin is not well-suited for this type of material contact. Skin problems are one of the most common conditions affecting lower-limb prosthetic users today. Skin problems are experienced by approximately 50 percent of amputees using a lower-limb prosthesis. In fact, amputees experience nearly 65 percent more dermatological complaints than the general population..

Abnormal mechanical and thermal conditions are introduced in a prosthesis, such as socket contact against the skin. This can traumatize tissue by excessive tension, friction or heat. Additionally, the skin reacts to increased temperature with perspiration, which is unable to evaporate because of the closed prosthetic environment. This results in more heat and moisture softening the skin, thereby disrupting normal integrity (maceration). Pressure is another mechanical issue introduced in a prosthetic socket. Certain parts of the human anatomy are wellsuited to disperse pressure, such as the fat pad of the heel..

With amputation, the normal pressure-distributing anatomy is missing or altered. Therefore your prosthetist must use anatomic areas not well-suited for weight-bearing pressures. Improper socket fit can increase pressure and accelerate skin breakdown. Pressure sores can often be corrected with minor prosthetic adjustments. However, sometimes pressure areas can be more significant and require recovery time out of the prosthesis and/or a complete new socket fit..

Irritant contact dermatitis and allergic contact dermatitis are two more common problems affecting prosthetic Identifying and Managing Skin Issues With Lower-Limb Prosthetic Use users. Either of these can occur when the skin is exposed to a material that creates a skin aggravation. If a known irritant or allergic component exists in the patient’s prosthesis, it should be switched to another material. Furthermore, both conditions can be treated with topical steroids or a barrier cream. Several over-the-counter (OTC) topical preparations are available for these conditions, such as hydrocortisone and zinc oxide.

Untreated, dermatitis can lead to chronic inflammation, cellular damage and carcinogenesis (cancer). Therefore, we urge all prosthetic users to see a physician when they have failed conservative therapy or have a lesion that won’t heal. It is imperative that these lesions are evaluated so that various forms of cancer can be ruled out..

First exposure causes no reaction (type IV elayed hypersensitivity reaction)
Itching and redness appears 1-5 days after econd exposure and affects everywhere the allergen contacts the skin
May extend beyond allergen contact areas if severe
Itching and redness typically appear immediately after contact (even with first exposure)
Severity related to duration & amount of exposure
Never extends beyond contact area
Negative pressure socket, pain and erythema under prosthesis in a well-circumscribed pattern
Usually a history of limb volume change (i.e., weight gain/loss, edema

Itching, possibly pain, “pimple” (properly termed pustule)

Inflammation with erythema and severe pain

Dry skin, may have erythema and/or itching

Physical Exam Findings

Erythema (redness) or ulceration over bony prominences

Acutely, may have well-demarcated erythema, weeping or blisters
Subacutely, erythema, less well-demarcated, maybe scaly skin
Chronically, erythema and dry, thick, scaly skin

Same as allergic contact dermatitis

Well-demarcated erythema that is exquisitely tender to palpation

Direct visualization of folliculocentric pustule
Typically with erythema

Visualization of erythematous nodule that is exquisitely painful

Dry scaly or flaky skin, may have excoriations or erythema

Acute Management

Stop using prosthesis
Antibiotic ointment (e.g., Polysporin*)
Moisturizer
Topical steroids (e.g., hydrocortisone)
Barrier cream [zinc oxide]
Moisturizer
Topical steroids
Stop using prosthesis
Moisturizer
Decrease heat and friction (remove prosthesis if possible)
Topical or systemic antibiotics

Incision and drainage absolutely necessary by physician, may also need systemic antibiotics

Moisturizers (over-the-counter)

Long-Term Management

Prosthetic adjustment
New socket

Allergen avoidance(substitute allergen for materials that do not aggravate symptoms)

Avoid or minimize irritant exposure (e.g., perspiration from heat or friction)

Correct underlying problems:
Curb weight gain (diet/exercise)
Treat edema
New socket?

Avoid shaving area (increases incidence)

Keep area clean
Avoid shaving affected area
Keep area clean
Maintain hydration (systemically and locally)

* Polysporin® is recommended over Neosporin® due to a high incidence of allergic contact dermatitis. Consult your dermatologist for more information.

Avoiding skin complications begins with good hygiene and daily skin inspections. Clean all parts of your prosthesis daily that contact your skin. The reverse is also true: Inspect and clean all parts of your skin daily that contact your prosthesis. Don’t rely on feeling a problem as your primary means of detecting skin problems. Many patients are desensitized and can’t feel damage to the skin. The best inspections make use of a mirror or a spouse who can view all aspects of your limb. Every amputee’s needs are unique, so discuss your inspection needs with your provider.

If you encounter a skin problem that you are unable to resolve or that will not heal, then the first step is to see your prosthetist. The prosthetist can then determine if the problem can be resolved prosthetically or through other conservative means. If not, the prosthetist may refer you to your primary care physician or a specialist (see flow diagram). Skin issues are very common among amputees. Because amputees require an unusually high demand from their skin, and because not wearing a prostheses is often not an option, they sometimes dismiss the importance of hygiene and monitoring of their skin. Skin issues need to be taken seriously. A simple skin breakdown can lead to more severe problems, such as infection, cancer, osteomyelitis (bone infection), and ultimately revision surgery. Start with your prosthetist to determine, and hopefully resolve, the problem. If your prosthetist cannot find a solution, you may need to consult a specialist, such as a dermatologist.

Disclaimer: The following information is provided and owned by the Amputation Coalition of America and was previously published on the website http://www.amputee-coalition.org or the Coalitions Newsletter, inMotion.