Facing Limb Loss, Part 2

Course overview

Nearly 2 million Americans already have some form of limb loss, and about 185,000 new amputations are performed each year. Losing a limb or being born with a limb that is partially or completely missing is a life-altering experience. A prosthesis is a device that is designed to replace, to the extent possible, the function and/or appearance of a missing limb or body part. A prosthetist is a skilled professional who designs or fabricates artificial limbs using a variety of synthetic materials. The prosthetist considers many issues in fabricating a prosthesis, including the amputation level, the contour of the residual limb, and the patient's lifestyle needs and financial resources. Health issues such as balance and strength, activity intolerance due to other medical conditions, impaired cognition or other neurological deficits, sensorimotor problems due to peripheral nerve dysfunction, and visual impairments all need to be considered for individual patients.