A prosthetist is a person who measures, designs, fabricates, fits and services a prothesis after a prescription from a physician – usually a doctor in rehabilitation. A prosthesis is a piece of equipment which replaces a arm or a leg lost to amputation. Prosthetists will be certified to fit these prostheses to either the upper […]
Who experience an above the knee or below the knee amputation often believe that life as they once knew it is over and they will never be the same again. Thanks to the many prosthetists and orthotists who manufacture, fit and developed prostheses this fear is often very far from reality. In fact, individuals who
Having a foot or lower leg amputation is a risk from several different environmental situations and medical conditions. For instance, those who race in Alaska may find that they are exposed to significant freezing temperatures which can create frostbite in the extremities, especially the hands and feet. There are times when this necessitates the amputation
Following the amputation of a foot, leg or hand an individual will require the use of a prosthetic in order to continue daily living in an independent manner. The most common prosthetic device in use is a prosthetic foot. Lower limb prostheses are much more common than those used in the hand and arm and
The use of prosthetics has been around for thousands of years, dating as far back as the early Egyptians. The number of individuals who require a prosthetic for the lower limbs is far greater than those who require a prostheses to replace either fingers or an entire arm and hand. Because of the difference in
Individuals who experience an amputation will most likely also experience a phenomenon called phantom pain. This is a particular type of pain that is felt below the level of the amputation and is theoretically caused by the nerves which are severed during the procedure, although the exact cause is not known. For decades doctors believe
The word \”amputation\” is the medical term that usually refers to the removal of a whole or part of an arm or a leg. Vascular surgeons only rarely performed amputations of the hands or arms but more frequently are faced with the task of removing toes or legs. Interestingly, it is one of the oldest
Below the Knee Amputation Read More »
Amputation is the loss of a limb usually from injury, disease or surgery. In the United States 82% of amputations are due to vascular disease, 22% trauma and the remaining 8% are split between congenital and cancer reasons. About 1.9 million people in the United States are living with the loss of a lower limb
Rehabilitation after Amputation Read More »
Amputation is the medical terminology used to describe the traumatic or surgical removal of a limb. This removal can be prompted by disease such as cancer, trauma or peripheral vascular disease secondary to diabetes. The most common amputations are of the lower limb and feet. There are 50,000 new amputations every year in the United
Gangrene is the medical term used to describe an area of the body that has lost blood supply has has begun to die. It can result from infection, blood vessel disease or trauma. Gangrene can involve any part of the body but the most common tissues are the toes, fingers, feet and hands but can
