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Amputation of the Hand or Finger and Prosthetics
Amputation is
the complete removal of an injured or deformed body part. An amputation
may be the result of a traumatic injury or may be the result of a planned
operation where the finger must be removed. Some traumatically amputated
fingers may be replanted or reattached, but in some cases, reattachment
of the amputated finger is not possible or advisable. Conditions, such
as a tumor, may require that a finger be surgically amputated to preserve
a person’s
health.
When an amputation is necessary, the surgeon removes the injured body
part and prepares the remaining part for future prosthetic use. This
means careful treatment of the skin, muscles, tendons, bones and nerves,
so that a prosthesis can be worn with comfort. The surgeon decides
the length of the remaining body part based on medical and prosthetic
factors.
For the first couple of weeks, you should expect some pain, which
is controlled with pain medications. While you are healing, your doctor
will tell you how to bandage and care for the surgical site and when
to return to the office for follow-up care. You may be given exercises
to build your strength and range of motion. You may be asked to touch
and move your skin to desensitize it and to keep it mobile.
The type of prosthesis depends on
the location and length of your residual finger or hand and your functional
and lifestyle needs. The prosthesis replaces some of the function and
the appearance of the missing body part. It is important to communicate
to your doctor and prosthetist the activities you feel are most important
so that an appropriate prosthesis can be provided for you. Prostheses
can restore length to a partially amputated finger, enable opposition
between the thumb and a finger, or in the case of a prosthetic hand,
stabilize and hold objects with bendable fingers. If your hand is amputated
through or above the wrist you may be given a full arm prosthesis with
an electric or mechanical hand. Some patients may decide not to use a
prosthesis.
A prosthesis is fabricated from an impression
cast taken from the residual finger or limb and the corresponding part
on the undamaged hand. Through this process, an exact match to the
details of the entire hand can be achieved. The prosthetic finger
or hand is fabricated out of a flexible, transparent silicone rubber.
Colors dispersed in the silicone are carefully matched to the individual’s
skin tones, which give the prosthesis the life-like look and texture
of real skin. The finger or hand is usually held on by suction. The
flexibility of the silicone permits good range of motion of the remaining
body parts. Fingernails can be individually colored before applying
them to the fingers so they can be matched almost perfectly. The
nails can be polished with any nail polish and the polish can be
removed with a gentle-action nail polish remover. Silicones are resistant
to staining. Inks wash off easily with alcohol or soap and warm water.
With proper care a silicone prosthesis may last 3-5 years. Creation
of your prosthesis usually begins three months after you are completely
healed from surgery. This waiting period allows time for swelling
to subside and for the remainder of your hand to take its final shape.
You may need therapy to learn to use your new prosthesis.
The loss of
a body part, especially one as visible as a finger or hand, can be emotionally
upsetting. It may take time to adapt to changes in your appearance and
ability to function. Talking about these feelings with your doctor or
other patients who have had amputations often helps you come to terms
with your amputation. You may ask your doctor to recommend a counselor
to assist with this process. It is important to remember that with time,
you will adapt to your situation by finding new ways of doing your daily
activities. A resource that can help is the Amputee Coalition of America
www.amputee-coalition.org/index.html. These resources can help you to
be strong during the course of recovery. Remember that the quality of
life is directly related to your attitude and expectations – not
just obtaining and using a prosthesis.
Thumb Prosthesis not attached.
Same hand with thumb Prosthesis attached.
© 2007 American Society for Surgery of the Hand
Developed by the ASSH Public Education Committee
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MedlinePlus®
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National Institutes of Health
amputation, prosthetics, prosthesis
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