Amputee Rehabilitation

Major limb amputation is a life-changing event, which has devastating effects on physical and psychological well-being. For some people, recovery after limb loss may be further complicated by other traumatic injuries or associated health conditions. At Cleveland Clinic London, we offer highly specialised rehabilitation for people with limb amputations and congenital limb deficiencies in adults. You receive compassionate care from a world-class team.

Our unique inpatient amputee rehabilitation programme offers:

• Multispecialty care: Our rehabilitation consultant-led team includes physiotherapists, occupational therapists, rehabilitation assistants, specialist nurses, prosthetists, psychologists and dietitians. You can also access orthopaedic, plastic and vascular surgeons, pain management specialists and interventional radiologists to build your recovery plan. Very few centres in the U.K. offer this streamlined, multidisciplinary approach for amputee care.
• Care for complex conditions: Our hospital setting and 24/7 intensive care unit enable us to care for people with amputations who may have associated spinal cord injuries, brain injuries or complex polytrauma. We can also admit patients in very early stages after major trauma and safely manage medically unstable patients, including those who are tracheostomy dependent, have unstable cardiorespiratory conditions, have diabetes or require dialysis due to kidney disease.
• World’s most advanced prosthetics: We partner with the leading provider of prosthetic limbs in the U.K., giving you access to cutting-edge prosthetics. You work with highly experienced prosthetists, who fabricate the most comfortable, bespoke lifestyle-appropriate prosthetics so you can live your fullest life after amputation.

Recovery after limb loss requires months of well-planned and intensive multidisciplinary therapy. It can be a physically and mentally challenging journey during which patients need timely and appropriate support. We offer the best medical and psychological support you need at every stage of your rehabilitation and beyond.

Post-operative care

After amputation surgery, we focus on your healing, comfort and emotional well-being. This stage of rehabilitation includes:

• Caring for your wound, preventing infection and protecting your residual limb (stump).
• Helping you deal with the physical and emotional challenges of limb loss.
• Learning safe transfer techniques, such as moving from a bed to a wheelchair or toilet and independence with your personal care.
• Managing stump and phantom limb pain with appropriate medications, regional anaesthetics and other holistic approaches.
• Working with therapists to improve balance, strength and range of motion in your joints along with other basic motor skills.

Prosthetic prescription and pre-prosthetic training

After your wound heals, we focus on “shaping” and optimising your stump. Shaping means we use special compression stockings and manual therapy to reduce swelling. This process prepares your stump for wearing a prosthetic device. You continue working with a physiotherapist to improve strength and range of motion in your residual limbs and other joints.

When your stump is ready, a prosthetist uses a mould or imaging scans of your residual limb to design your prosthetic. They create a temporary “check” socket for your residual limb. The socket is the device that fits directly over your stump. Getting a comfortable socket is crucial in your rehabilitation journey. You may spend a few weeks moving with the temporary socket. We make any necessary adjustments until you are comfortable using it. We then make a permanent socket to complete your prosthetic limb.

We do a comprehensive assessment to determine the right prosthetic components to meet your goals and enable you to enhance your independence and quality of life. At Cleveland Clinic London, you have access to the most sophisticated prosthetics in the world, such as:

• Activity- and task-specific prosthetics, customised for any job, sport or hobby.
• Microprocessor-controlled knees and ankles, which use computerised sensors to enable a safer gait on inclines and uneven surfaces.
• Upper-limb bionics, which use nerve signals from your residual limb to enhance your control of upper limb prosthetics.

Prosthetic training

Prosthetic fabrication usually takes about three weeks. When your prosthetic arrives, we begin prosthetic training. You work with physiotherapists, occupational therapists and your prosthetist to get used to your new limb. We adjust your prosthetic for the best fit, comfort and movement.

This phase includes learning how to:

• Remove and put on your prosthetic limb.
• Care for the skin on your residual limb.
• Manage stump discomfort and pain.
• Maintain strength and range of motion in your residual limbs.
• Optimise your mood, sleep and diet.
• Practice doing your daily activities with your new limb.

Advanced Surgeries for People With Amputations

At Cleveland Clinic London, we offer several surgical techniques for stump-related problems aimed at improving comfort, function and quality of life for people with amputations. Rehabilitation consultants work with orthopaedic surgeons, plastic and reconstructive surgeons and peripheral nerve surgeons to evaluate your stump problems and suitability for these procedures.

Learn More About Amputee Rehabilitation

Contact us or call +44 20 3370 9192 for more information about our rehabilitation services.

Refer a patient

GPs and consultants can refer patients quickly and easily to our rehabilitation services. Call +44 20 3423 7777 to get started.

Paying for care

We make it easier to access expert rehabilitation services in the U.K. Read more about payment information, including options for self-pay and private medical insurance. If you are coming to us from another country, learn more about coordination available through Global Patient Services.