Surgical Prosthetic Equipment

Surgical prosthetic equipment is used to replace a body part that has been lost. It can be used for cosmetic reasons (to hide injuries and disfigurements), or to replace a missing function in the body, such as eyes, arms, hands or legs. Some prostheses are used to help a person with cancer feel more confident and comfortable in their appearance.

Lower extremity prosthetics describe artificially replaced limbs located at the hip level or lower. These include the transtibial prosthesis (trans-femoral amputation below the knee) and the triceps sural prosthesis (trans-humeral amputation at the shoulder).

A lower extremity prosthesis may be attached to the stump and socket method or through osseointegration, which is when an artificial limb is implanted directly into the patient's bone. An osseointegrated leg or arm is a more permanent way to attach the prosthesis, and allows for better muscle control of the limb.

The bionic leg is more aesthetically pleasing than a socket prosthesis, and offers better function for many amputees. It also provides better muscle control, which means the patient can move it more easily.

Osseointegrated devices are available for both the lower and upper extremities. They are made from a composite material and are designed to last longer than conventional splints, which often need replacement after a few years.

The cranial helmet for babies are made up of several components: a socket, a terminal device and a pylon. The socket protects the residual limb while allowing weight-bearing and load distribution. It is custom-made to fit the patient's residual limb and distribute the force of the prosthesis across the area of the residual limb (rather than just one small spot).

The terminal device is the portion of the prosthesis that connects to the socket. It can be passive, such as a hook, or active, such as a myoelectric device or cable. The terminal device can be used to perform a variety of functions, including gripping objects or manipulating door knobs.

Passive terminal devices are more affordable and more aesthetically pleasing than active ones. They generally include a combination of cables and myoelectric devices to perform a number of different functions. These are more common for lower extremity amputees.

There are a number of newer materials that can create prostheses that are nearly indistinguishable from a native hand. These are known as hybrid prostheses.

UC Davis researchers are developing technology that uses artificial intelligence to make prostheses more intuitive for the user. The goal is to teach people how to use their new prosthesis by learning from the individual's muscle firing patterns.

Another research project at UC Davis is using ultrasound and electromyography to study the firing patterns of muscles after transhumeral shoulder amputation surgery. It is hoped that the results will help patients who have had this type of surgery recover their normal hand movement.

There are also newer ways to revascularize blood vessels during surgery, which can be helpful for some people with cancer who have amputations at the shoulder. The revascularization technique involves reattaching a series of tiny polyurethane tubes that carry blood to the tissues and muscles. This technique has been successfully used for many patients. You can get more enlightened on this topic by reading here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosthetist.