Stump Sock
A knitted wool, cotton, or synthetic sock worn over the residual limb or liner to manage socket volume and maintain a secure prosthetic fit throughout the day.
Full Definition
Stump socks are layered over the residual limb or silicone liner to compensate for daily fluctuations in limb volume caused by oedema changes, weight variation, and tissue atrophy. They are available in graduated thicknesses measured in 'plies' (e.g., 1-ply, 3-ply, 5-ply), and wearers add or remove plies to maintain proper socket fit. The term 'stump sock' remains widely used in clinical and patient documentation, though some style guides prefer 'residual limb sock' as a more respectful formulation. Editors working on patient-facing materials should be guided by the publication's preferred terminology policy.
Usage
Usage note: 'Stump sock' is the traditional clinical term; 'residual limb sock' is preferred in patient-facing and sensitive editorial contexts. 'Ply' denotes thickness; editors should not change 'ply' to 'layer' as ply has a specific measurement meaning.
In Context
- "The patient was instructed to add a 3-ply stump sock if the socket felt loose during afternoon activities." — Patient education handout
- "Some patient-facing prosthetics brochures use 'residual limb sock' in place of 'stump sock' for sensitivity reasons." — Editorial style decision note