The dermatologist often is best positioned to diagnose skin diseases that result from wearing prostheses and is well versed in treatments for short-term and long-term management of skin disease on residual limbs. The dermatologist also can offer prophylactic treatments to decrease sweating and hair growth to prevent potential infections and subsequent skin breakdown. Additionally, proper education on self-care has been shown to decrease the amount of skin problems and increase functional status and quality of life for amputees.32,33 Dermatologists can assist with the patient education process as well as refer amputees to a useful resource from the Amputee Coalition website (www.amputee-coalition.org) to provide specific patient education on how to maintain skin on the residual limb to prevent skin disease.
Current Treatments and Future Directions
Skin disorders affecting residual limbs usually are conditions that dermatologists commonly encounter and are comfortable managing in general practice. Additionally, dermatologists routinely treat hyperhidrosis and conduct laser hair removal, both of which are effective prophylactic adjuncts for amputee skin health. There are a few treatments for reducing residual limb hyperhidrosis that are particularly useful. Although first-line treatment of residual limb hyperhidrosis often is topical aluminum chloride, it requires frequent application and often causes considerable skin irritation when applied to residual limbs. Alternatively, intradermal botulinum toxin has been shown to successfully reduce sweat production in individuals with residual limb hyperhidrosis and is well tolerated.34 A 2017 case report discussed the use of microwave thermal ablation of eccrine coils using a noninvasive 3-step hyperhidrosis treatment system on a bilateral below-the-knee amputee. The authors reported the patient tolerated the procedure well with decreased dermatitis and folliculitis, leading to his ability to wear a prosthetic for longer periods of time.35
Ablative fractional resurfacing with a CO2 laser is another key treatment modality central to amputees, more specifically to traumatic amputees. A CO2 laser can decrease skin tension and increase skin mobility associated with traumatic scars as well as decrease skin vulnerability to biofilms present in chronic wounds on residual limbs. It is believed that the pattern of injury caused by ablative fractional lasers disrupts biofilms and stimulates growth factor secretion and collagen remodeling through the concept of photomicrodebridement.36 The ablative fractional resurfacing approach to scar therapy and chronic wound debridement can result in less skin injury, allowing the amputee to continue rehabilitation and return more quickly to prosthetic use.37
One interesting area of research in amputee care involves the study of novel ways to increase the skin’s ability to adapt to mechanical stress and load bearing and accelerate wound healing on the residual limb. Multiple studies have identified collagen fibril enlargement as an important component of skin adaptation, and biomolecules such as decorin may enhance this process.38-40 The concept of increasing these biomolecules at the correct time during wound healing to strengthen the residual limb tissue currently is being studied.39
Another encouraging area of research is the involvement of fibroblasts in cutaneous wound healing and their role in determining the phenotype of residual limb skin in amputees. The clinical application of autologous fibroblasts is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for cosmetic use as a filler material and currently is under research for other applications, such as skin regeneration after surgery or manipulating skin characteristics to enhance the durability of residual limbs.41
Future preventative care of amputee skin may rely on tracking residual limb health before severe tissue injury occurs. For instance, Rink et al42 described an approach to monitor residual limb health using noninvasive imaging (eg, hyperspectral imaging, laser speckle imaging) and noninvasive probes that measure oxygenation, perfusion, skin barrier function, and skin hydration to the residual limb. Although these limb surveillance sensors would be employed by prosthetists, the dermatologist, as part of the multispecialty team, also could leverage the data for diagnosis and treatment considerations.
Final Thoughts
The dermatologist is an important member of the multidisciplinary team involved in the care of amputees. Skin disease is prevalent in amputees throughout their lives and often leads to abandonment of prostheses. Although current therapies and preventative treatments are for the most part successful, future research involving advanced technology to monitor skin health, increasing residual limb skin durability at the molecular level, and targeted laser therapies are promising. Through engagement and effective collaboration with the entire multidisciplinary team, dermatologists will have a considerable impact on amputee skin health.