Our upper extremity care includes finger, partial hand, hand, wrist disarticulation, below-elbow, above-elbow, shoulder-disarticulation, and forequarter amputees. Advances in electronics, micro-chip technology, specialized terminal devices, and lightweight, contoured sockets have brought dramatic improvements to upper extremity prosthetics. Our upper-extremity specialists are dedicated to helping you discover the combination of componentry that will best meet your needs.
The socket is the critical first component in all our upper extremity prosthetic designs. Each socket is custom contoured to fit the bone, muscle, vascular and nerve areas of the residual limb. The result is a socket that has total contact and even pressure with all the surfaces of the residual limb. That means greater comfort, increased muscle function, better suspension and greater range of motion.
The conventional or body-powered prosthesis uses a harness to suspend the arm and fastens around the patient's upper torso. A cable extends from the harness to a mechanical hand, hook or elbow; exaggerated upper body movements activate the cable, which controls the prosthesis.
A much different approach is seen in the electrically-powered prosthesis where motors open and close the hand, flex and extend the elbow, or rotate the wrist. This type of prosthesis is often referred to as myoelectric. By contracting muscles in the residual limb, the patient activates the motor in the elbow, wrist or hand. The most advanced myoelectric arms have proportional control hands and flex wrists.
One exciting new technology allows the patient to connect the arm to their own computer and, using a special software program for technical troubleshooting, make minor adjustments on their prosthesis. It is also possible for the prosthetist to be involved by way of computer modem when more complex analysis and adjustments are necessary.
The most critical ingredient for the rehabilitative success of an upper extremity patient is early fitting.