Prosthetic Limbs Help Children

Prosthetic Limbs Help Children

But it doesn’t have to be that way. Modern prosthetics can help children with limb loss live a normal life.

Parents may have a lot of questions about prosthetic limbs, such as whether their insurance will cover it, or if there are alternatives available for those without insurance.

The answer is yes; most first-tier health insurance providers cover pediatric prosthetics. In addition, funding may be found among charitable foundations or from private donors who understand the whole new future a properly fitted prosthesis can provide.

Another question parents may ask is whether prosthetics can be functional but still have a realistic appearance.

The technology advances in modern prosthetics are remarkable, and myoelectric upper extremity prostheses are state-of-the-art. In the absence of a hand or arm, the child’s brain continues sending signals to grasp or open the hand in the residual limb. Myoelectric sensors can read these signals on the skin. A computer chip magnifies those signals, actuating a tiny powerful motor to accomplish the task. Many infants and children learn to open and grasp with their “myo” on command in a matter of days.

Pediatric Prosthetics Inc., a company specializing in prosthetics for children, is also employing advanced technology with lower extremity prosthetics to make them lighter, stronger, more comfortable and more responsive to the needs of active children. It is the first prosthetics company focusing solely on the needs of the children and their families. It now has strategic alliances with prosthetists in 21 states and is continuing to expand that network.

Linda Putback-Bean, founder of Pediatric Prosthetics, has been specializing in fitting infants and children for more than 20 years. She has also hosted summer camps and numerous support group meetings for families affected by pediatric limb loss.

Linda and her staff combine well over 50 years of experience fitting infants and children. She and her associates travel to their patients’ hometowns whenever necessary to ensure all the children get the personal care and support they require.

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what is the latest techonolgy in prosthetic limbs?

Question by Vietboi-Tu: what is the latest techonolgy in prosthetic limbs?
so i was wondering about the world today. wondering, what if i were in some serious car accident and had to amputate my legs. would i be able to walk normally with prosthetics?
any how this led to my questioning of all prosthetics such as arms, hands, legs, etc. how much can we do with them? are they able to link in with the nervous system? can you differenciate a high quality prosthetic from a real limb from a distance?

Best answer:

Answer by Shelley
If you were in an accident and you had to loose a single leg you could most defiantly learn to walk normally. I wear an above knee prosthetic leg and I have a slight limp ( which is more noticeable when I’m tired or in pain) but for the most part no one ever notices. I walk in both flat shoes and high heels. below knee amputees have an easier time walking.

If you were a double above knee amputee your balance and gait ( walking with out a limp) would be trickier. This is because of the energy you would have to use and the lack of both knee joints. If it was double below knee it would be easier because the knee joints help considerably.

Don’t get me wrong you can’t just have an accident get a leg the next day and run a half marathon. You need to work your butt off and deal with the many changes a stump goes though. I’ve worn a leg since the age of 5 and I regularly have changes made to my socket because of weight changes and things break down.

A lot can be done but with all this awesome technology comes limits.

I wear a C-leg ( made by Otto Bock if you want to look it up) it’s an awesome computerized knee with a heafty price tag ( 30 -50 thousand dollars) It helps me walk down stairs and on uneven ground with relative ease. It helps prevent tripping and starts to speed up when I do. I love it to pieces but it isn’t for everyone.

What I don’t like about it is how delicate it can be. I can wear it in the rain safely enough but I can’t get it wet. I also can’t get it dirty and as a girl who loves to hike, canoe, and live in a province that surrounded by salt water and riddled with bogs you can see my problem. In order to do many of my beloved activities I need a second less high tech leg that can withstand exposure to water and muck.

high tech toys also come with high tech rules. Because they are so expensive there are lots of fussy warranty rules. What feet you can and cannot use, what parts can be used, who is allowed to fix your limb, how often it has to come in for repairs. While I didn’t like Otto Bocks foot rule I do love their customer service. My C-leg broke they gave me a loaner for 2 months while it was repaired.

As for arms there are all sorts of cool gadgets out there. The ilimb is kinda like the C-leg. Expensive, flashy, but it does have it’s limits and it doesn’t work for everyone.

There has been some mostly experimental work done on nerve linking. Anything that involves surgery makes me and many other amputees squeemish. I’ve had over a dozen revision surgeries on my stump, let me tell you when you open up any part of your body you run the risk of things going wrong. Infections can happen, nerves can be damaged, and all hell can break loose. While there has been work done on bone anchored and nerve linked limbs I’m not about to sign up for any type of limb that requires anything attached to my insides. One of the great things about my leg is I can take it off when it hurts and cuddle up in bed.

As for look limbs can be made to be super life like. Silicone has come a long way but you’ll pay out the nose for it. I will be getting a removable foam cover for when I do theatre productions. But for day to day use I like my blue and silver leg. It’s a fake leg and I’m okay with it.

Some great companies for you to look up are:
Touch Bionics
Otto Bock
and Ossur

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!