The knee area is chosen partly because this is where the shinbone, or tibia, meets the thighbone, or femur. Removing the part or whole limb at a joint prevents the need to break one of the bones. After the part or whole limb is removed, the skin is closed with sutures . A bandage or dressing is then placed over it. The person is taken to a surgery recovery room while he or she wakes up from the surgery.
Pain medication is given if needed.
Antibiotics and other medications may also be given. When the person is awake and his or her vital signs are within normal limits, he or she is usually taken back to a bed in the surgical inpatient unit . In most cases, the person will need to stay in the hospital for at least 1 or 2 more days. In many cases, a person will need a prosthesis, or artificial body part, after surgery. The prosthesis can help a person continue to walk after limb removal.