Prosthetics allow individuals with missing limbs to defy limitations. As the science of prosthetics continues to advance, we have been able to create specific types for each person&#;s unique needs. In this blog, we&#;ll look at the four primary types of prostheses and how they are utilized.
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Each type of prosthetic serves a specific function, including the type of limb it replaces and how it is connected to the body. These four types of prosthetics include transradial, transhumeral, transtibial, and transfemoral.
A transradial prosthetic is an artificial arm, or upper extremity prosthetic. It attaches directly below the patient&#;s elbow.
There are two types of transradial prosthetics: Passive and Active.
A passive device is only cosmetic and doesn&#;t restore function or movement. Active transradial prosthetics are meant to restore function to the missing limb. This can be cable-operated prosthetic devices, which use a harness connected to the shoulder of the missing arm and the other arm to allow the user to control manually (body-powered prostheses).
It may also be a myoelectric prosthetic implant that detects muscle movement in the upper arm using special sensors, allowing the artificial hand and arm to move through these sensors.
A transhumeral prosthetic arm attaches to the body above the elbow and below the shoulder. Like a transradial prosthetic, transhumeral can be active or passive, but the elbow&#;s absence can make restoring functionality more challenging.
Active transhumeral prosthetics incorporate myoelectric sensors, and sometimes cables, into the design to allow the user to move their limb like an actual body part.
A transtibial prosthesis is an artificial leg, or lower limb prosthetic, that attaches below the knee of the user. People who need this type of prosthetic have a fully functional knee, which provides plenty of range of motion for the prosthetic. Because of this, the transtibial prosthetic mainly works to distribute weight during movement. One key feature of this prosthetic is that the artificial foot typically doesn&#;t move, meaning the user will need proper physical rehabilitation to get used to walking differently.
A transfemoral prosthesis is an artificial leg that attaches above the knee. It has a prosthetic knee joint and a socket connecting the residual limb to the prosthetic leg. Although this type of prosthetic is more challenging than the others due to replacing the knee joint and most of the leg, users can still fully regain their ability to walk and move with proper rehabilitation and training.
Transtibial prosthetics are the most popular type used for amputees, and a study from found that these made up 56.1% of artificial limbs. That said, newer studies continue to reflect the same stats.
A study reported that the most common type of socket used is a patellar tendon-bearing prosthesis designed explicitly for transtibial amputations.
The most common body parts to be replaced with a prosthetic include the lower leg and foot, the leg with the knee, arms above and below the elbow, and hands. Although these may be the most common, prosthetics can be used for multiple body part replacements, including the eyes, arteries, and heart valves.
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When talking about prosthetics and artificial limbs, it's important to note the differences between the various types and their specific uses. There are usually four main types to consider: transradial, transfemoral, transtibial, and transhumeral. However, other prosthetics can be used in certain conditions. We're here to explain what these prosthetic devices do and how they work.
A transradial prosthesis is an artificial arm that attaches below the elbow. A passive device of the sort serves strictly cosmetic purposes. The opposite is an active prosthesis, which comes in two forms. A cable-operated prosthetic device works using a harness that connects to the affected shoulder and the other arm, allowing the user to control the movement manually. A myoelectric prosthetic implant detects muscle movement in the upper arm via specialized sensors and moves the prosthesis, including opening and closing the hand.
A transhumeral prosthesis is an artificial arm that connects to the body above the elbow but below the shoulder. A transhumeral limb is more complicated than a transradial prosthesis due to a missing elbow, making movement more challenging and complex to compensate for. Transhumeral prosthetic devices can also be active and passive. Most modern active transhumeral prostheses use myoelectric sensors or a combination of sensors and cables to move the artificial limb.
A transtibial prosthesis is an artificial leg below the knee. Since the knee allows for a lot of movement without assistance, the prosthesis's primary function is to distribute weight accordingly and provide comfort. Patients need to be rehabilitated on walking with a transtibial prosthesis since the artificial foot usually doesn't move.
A transfemoral prosthesis is often the most challenging of the four main types. It replaces a missing leg above the knee. The artificial knee joint is controlled by hip motion, thus heavily influenced by the strength of the residual limb. A transfemoral prosthesis usually allows for seemingly normal movement and function after a lengthy rehabilitation process. A proper socket fit is essential to ensure comfort and stability.
Prosthetists can also replace missing hands and feet with partial prosthetics, which can also be active or passive depending on the needs and the budget. Active artificial hands are challenging to manufacture due to varying levels of injury and missing fingers. Not all patients are suitable recipients for an artificial hand, and a qualified medical professional needs to assess them to ensure they can be fitted with the best prosthesis.
Another type of artificial arm includes a body-powered arm attached to the remainder of the shoulder with a harness. It works similarly to a transhumeral prosthesis, with the patient's other shoulder motion manipulating the artificial limb.
Other prosthetic implants can have a purely cosmetic function. These can include artificial eyes, fingers, noses, and more.
Prosthetics have developed significantly with technological improvements. New advancements allow for prostheses that have improved range of motion and integrate more seamlessly with the body.
If you are looking for occupational or physical therapy, vestibular rehab, wheelchair training, learning to walk, unweighting aquatic therapy, or other services in the Phoenix area, please call Touchstone Rehabilitation at 602-277-.