Is it time for an artificial leg?
Families often travel a long way only to be told, correctly, that the stump is not ready. Answer these seven questions first. If you are unsure of an answer, choose No, and send us a photo on WhatsApp.
The result appears here once every question has an answer.
What each question is checking
| Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Redness, discharge, smell, fever, colour change | Signs of infection or poor circulation. A doctor must see this before anything else. |
| Wound fully closed | A socket over an open wound can undo the surgery. |
| Six weeks since surgery | Swelling is still leaving the stump before that, so a cast would not stay accurate. Diabetic and vascular stumps often need ten to sixteen weeks. |
| Bandaged and steady in size | A socket is rigid. It can only fit a stump whose size has settled. |
| Joint straightens fully | A knee or hip stiff in a bent position cannot be aligned under a leg. Physiotherapy comes first. |
| Standing on the other leg | The sound leg carries the patient through fitting and training. |
| Sugar, pressure and breathing under control | Walking on a prosthesis is harder work than ordinary walking. |
If the answer is not yet
The waiting weeks are training weeks. Keep the joints straight, wear the bandage or shrinker, and strengthen the arms and the other leg. The exercise guide and the timeline set out exactly what to do. Message us in the first fortnight after surgery, so that nothing is lost.
Can this checker replace an assessment by a prosthetist?
No. It uses your answers, not an examination. It helps you decide when to come, and what to work on first. The prosthetist confirms readiness by examining the stump.
What if I do not know the answer to one of the questions?
Choose No, then send clear photos of the stump and a short video of the joint being straightened on WhatsApp. We will answer it for you.
The checker says not yet. How long will it take?
It depends on the reason. Swelling and shape usually settle in two to four weeks of proper bandaging. A stiff joint can take four to eight weeks of physiotherapy. Healing in diabetes takes as long as it takes.
The checker says see a doctor. Is it urgent?
Treat it as prompt. If the patient is diabetic, or there is fever or spreading redness, have it seen the same day.
Start with a free assessment
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