Editing Amputation (section)

=== Post-operative management ===
A 2019 [[Cochrane (organisation)|Cochrane]] [[systematic review]] aimed to determine whether rigid dressings were more effective than soft dressings in helping wounds heal following transtibial (below the knee) amputations. Due to the limited and very low certainty of evidence available, the authors concluded that it was uncertain what the benefits and harms were for each dressing type. They recommended that clinicians consider the pros and cons of each dressing type on a case-by-case basis: rigid dressings may potentially benefit patients who have a high risk of falls; soft dressings may potentially benefit patients who have poor skin integrity.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Kwah LK, Webb MT, Goh L, Harvey LA | title = Rigid dressings versus soft dressings for transtibial amputations | journal = The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews | volume = 2019 | pages = CD012427 | date = June 2019 | issue = 6 | pmid = 31204792 | pmc = 6573094 | doi = 10.1002/14651858.cd012427.pub2 }}</ref>

A 2017 review found that the use of rigid removable dressings (RRD's) in trans-tibial amputations, rather than soft bandaging, improved healing time, reduced edema, prevented knee flexion contractures and reduced complications, including further amputation, from external trauma such as falls onto the stump.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Reichmann JP, Stevens PM, Rheinstein J, Kreulen CD | title = Removable Rigid Dressings for Postoperative Management of Transtibial Amputations: A Review of Published Evidence | journal = PM&R | volume = 10 | issue = 5 | pages = 516–523 | date = May 2018 | pmid = 29054690 | doi = 10.1016/j.pmrj.2017.10.002 | s2cid = 21732925 }}</ref>

Post-operative management, in addition to wound healing, considers maintenance of limb strength, joint range, edema management, preservation of the intact limb (if applicable) and stump desensitization.