Which of the following statements best describes amputation?

Administering pre-operative antibiotics is essential to prevent post-operative infection in a patient undergoing amputation. Prophylactic antibiotics are often given before the surgical procedure to reduce the risk of infection at the surgical site and promote successful wound healing.

b. Providing pre-operative analgesia: Providing pre-operative analgesia is important for pain management, but it is not directly related to preventing post-operative infection.
c. Ensuring proper patient positioning: Ensuring proper patient positioning is crucial for the surgical procedure's success and patient safety, but it is not directly related to preventing post-operative infection.
d. Educating the patient about post-operative exercises: Patient education about post-operative exercises is important for rehabilitation, but it does not directly prevent post-operative infection. Proper wound care and infection prevention protocols are more relevant to reducing the risk of infection.

Increased swelling and bruising of the residual limb after a below-the-knee amputation may indicate a possible complication such as hematoma formation or poor wound healing. It requires further assessment and intervention by the healthcare team.

b. Mild tenderness and discomfort at the surgical site: Mild tenderness and discomfort are common after surgery and may be expected in the post-operative period. As long as the pain is manageable and not worsening, it is not necessarily an indication of a significant complication.
c. Gradual decrease in phantom limb pain over time: Phantom limb pain may gradually decrease over time as the nerve endings adapt to the amputation, and the brain's perception of the missing limb changes. This finding is a normal part of the post-amputation process and is not typically a complication.
d. Resumption of normal daily activities with a prosthetic limb: Resuming normal daily activities with a prosthetic limb is a positive outcome and a sign of successful rehabilitation and adaptation to the prosthesis. It is not indicative of a complication.