ABOVE-KNEE PROSTHESIS

An above-knee prosthesis (also referred to as a transfemoral prosthesis) is usually made up of a personalized socket, a knee, a pylon, a foot, and some capability of suspending the prosthesis to the body. Your prosthesis will be individualized by making a customized socket specific to your limb and selecting the most suitable componentry for your life-style and needs.

Initial Prosthesis

During the first six to twelve months after an amputation the shape and size of your limb will change a great deal. Your prosthetist will assist you control these preliminary changes until you are stable. This may also encompass instructing you when to put on more layers of socks over your limb or putting on more padding to the socket itself to tighten its fit. If the socket becomes too loose even with these changes, it may also be essential to construct a new socket for you to tackle the change in volume.

In a lot of conditions, this preliminary prosthesis does not have a aesthetic covering, making it less complicated for the prosthetist to make adjustments to the socket or changes to the knee and foot alignment. Gait training, or getting to know how to walk with your prosthesis, will commence with this preliminary prosthesis.

You may be moved to a definitive prosthesis when the volume of your residual limb stops shrinking and you have reached a consistent degree of activity, it may additionally be time to move around on your own.

Definitive Prosthesis

Making use of similar procedure, your preliminary prosthesis will be changed with a more definitive device. While some individuals like the appearance of their prosthesis with no cosmetic cover, others may like to go for a cosmetic cover at this time. Creating a definitive prosthesis and adjusting its fit may place you on regular visits and can take a few weeks to complete the process, in order to make sure you’re comfortable and functioning well.

A prosthesis can last as long as two to five years depending on your level of activity and use of your device. With children, the time of use is shorter, as a result of the fact that they are still growing. It is essential to take into account that prosthesis is a mechanical device that from time to time will require repairs and adjustments. Sometimes, single aspects can be repaired or changed as an alternative than creating a completely new prosthesis.

Significant modifications in weight can require changes to the socket or different part of the prosthesis.

Component Considerations

There are recognizable challenges that come with the absence of your anatomic knee and ankle joints. These consist of stability and balance troubles as well as a lot of energy requirements. In many instances, these challenges may additionally create the need for a more state-of-the-art prosthesis. Advanced prosthetic technology, like microprocessor-controlled knees, may as well be a great deal of help.

Disclaimer: The information provided herein is for patient general knowledge only and should not be used during any medical emergency, diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. Duplication for personal and commercial use must be authorized in writing by Surjen.com.