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Posted on: Mon, Apr 14 2008 1:44 PM

Posted by: gwhall57 Posts: 6

 For me, "stump' and "residual" are pretty much interchangable.  I guess it depends on the person.  Maybe try to ask the patient which term they prefer?

Posted on: Mon, Apr 14 2008 2:26 PM

Posted by: crazylegsBley Posts: 41

Dr. House,I am an amputee and a prosthetist and have been for the last 25 years or so. I find most people who are amputees or have been for some time are alright with the term stump. The latest term for the stump is trans tib fib or whatever bone or bones it crosses. This is still confusing for the patient,but makes the practitioner more comfortable by not having to say stump. I think it depends a lot on the setting and how familiar you are with the person. Bill

Posted on: Mon, Apr 14 2008 2:49 PM

Posted by: House Posts: 132

Thanks for everyone's input. i asked the question because as residents were taught that we should not refer to the amputated leg as a stump, but instead should call it a "residual leg". I always wondered who's idea this was becasue every patient that came in looked at me like I was crazy when I referred to it as a "residual". Usually they would say, "oh, you mean my stump".

So, I thought this would be a great forum to ask everybody. My conclusion so far is that most would perfer the term "stump", but I would just advise the clinician to ask the patient what they perfer and go with that.

Thanks!

Posted on: Fri, Apr 18 2008 8:56 AM

Posted by: gimpgolfer Posts: 7

Like most of the other amputees here it's "my stump" I have had doctors refer to it however as "residual limb'.....my kids call it my "little leg"

Posted on: Sat, Apr 19 2008 3:31 AM

Posted by: NathanL Posts: 8

 I call mine.... (drum roll please)...

 My leg!

Posted on: Wed, Apr 23 2008 3:51 AM

Posted by: Becky Posts: 1,551

My oldest son took my amputation (BKA) very hard and would not let me call it a stump. Now, after three years, he is used to me calling it my stump. I like the term stump. The medical profession needs a PC term though, hence the term residual limb. I would prefer remaining over residual though.

Posted on: Tue, Apr 29 2008 9:36 AM

Posted by: boneezer Posts: 2

i am a aka right.i call whats left a nub.i let people rub the nub for good luck,

it is what it is,you can be serious and call it a stump or residual limb.i call it a nub,

i find that people don`t know what to say to me about my amputation,but after  i tell them to rub my nub for good luck,it breaks the ice.little kids also understand nub alot easier than stump.just remember it is yours,so you can call it whatever you want.

Posted on: Tue, Apr 29 2008 9:36 AM

Posted by: boneezer Posts: 2

i am a aka right.i call whats left a nub.i let people rub the nub for good luck,

it is what it is,you can be serious and call it a stump or residual limb.i call it a nub,

i find that people don`t know what to say to me about my amputation,but after  i tell them to rub my nub for good luck,it breaks the ice.little kids also understand nub alot easier than stump.just remember it is yours,so you can call it whatever you want.