Which describes the proper care for an amputated part?

• A. Freeze the amputated part
• B. Wrap in moist sterile dressing, place in bag, place bag on ice, do not freeze
• C. Dry wrap and store at room temperature
• D. Rinse with alcohol before storage

Answer: (B)

Preserving the amputated part for possible reattachment hinges on keeping it cool and moist without freezing. The best approach is to wrap the part in a sterile dressing that's moistened with sterile saline to prevent drying and contamination, seal it in a sterile bag to protect against further contamination and leakage, and then place that bag on ice to lower the temperature toward about 4°C. Do not freeze the tissue, and avoid direct contact with ice if possible to prevent frostbite and cellular damage.

Dry wrapping or storing at room temperature allows rapid tissue death from desiccation and warmth. Rinsing with alcohol damages cells and dries them out, reducing viability. Freezing causes ice crystal formation that can destroy tissue architecture, making reattachment unlikely.