Finger & Hand Prosthetics

Fingers and Thumb Prostheses

Materials have changed over the 30+ years of our involvement. Silicone selection is now almost as individual as the patient’s skin pigmentation and characterization. We often combine multiple silicones into the creation of a single prosthesis to maximize the outcome in terms of weight, tissue compliance, durability and comfort. Fingernails may also be designed to be removable, modifiable, and paintable, because the characterization can often change rather dramatically. Our clients appreciate the patience and passion we possess in listening to their very personal wishes for their prosthesis. We make such personal nuanced changes and utilize specific silicone formulations to provide the most intimate connection with their limb. Our techniques have been refined and shared over 40 years.

Below Elbow Full Hand Prosthesis

Our patients that slip their hand prosthesis on love them. A very natural silicone hand or below elbow prosthesis offers comfort, support and protection for your hand or arm. Some of our patients have rejected the option of being fit with the articulating myoelectric hand prosthesis, because they have gotten used to the simplicity of a beautiful aesthetic prosthesis. They know that myoelectric hand prostheses even those with cosmetic coverings attract attention, and they prefer to accept and accommodate their hand difference with total anonymity. Still, we explore all options for our patients to keep step with technological developments. Call us if you would like a review of your options.

Mechanical/Articulating

This is an example of our fully functional extremity prosthetics line a service we provide above and beyond our aesthetic anaplastology services. Our nationally accredited facility in Madison may be the only one of its kind; with medical artists providing life-like silicone restorations and a certified prosthetist to provide functional prosthetics like the one shown here.

The high-tech prosthetic device featuring articulating fingers was provided by certified prosthetist Gregory Gion, CCA, BOCP at our Madison, Wisconsin location. Each device is custom-designed to within millimeters of a patient’s unique amputation and hand structure.

We will complete the intake forms, take custom measurements and submit all information to manufacturers like Point Designs, Partial Hand Prosthetics, or  Naked Prosthetics.

Engineers will design and manufacture a custom, functional hand prosthesis individualized for the patient’s needs and anatomy. These functional devices are characterized by finger joints that ratchet into position like Point fingers or Titan or M fingers, or body-driven finger joints.

Finger Prosthetics for Playing Guitar

We have provided finger prosthetics to help restore finger amputees play the guitar or other instrument after traumatic amputations or other reasons. The prosthesis for this man’s ring finger was shaped to help him bar strings while the index prosthesis restored the length and especially the padding at the very tip which was too sensitive to press the strings down. It is a focused project, custom fit to the patient’s finger and tested on his guitar. The series shows careful adjustments of the blue silicone prototypes to arrive at the best length and shape, then the fabrication of molds and processing in high durability silicone. See his video here.

Partial Hand/Glove Style Prosthesis

How does amputation of the digits (fingers) affect hand function?

Loss of individual digits accounts for a proportional loss of hand function. There is a 10% loss of hand function for each finger lost to amputation, and a full 40% loss of hand function results when the thumb has been amputated. This has been established by the American Academy for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH).

Injuries to the hand such as amputation of a finger or the thumb are not uncommon. Accidents occur almost daily in many occupations, in farming accidents, from snow blower accidents, from hobbyist hand-saw accidents and home-mishaps.  Thumb amputation can be treated with thumb prostheses. Thumb prostheses can be very effective in not only restoring cosmesis (appearance) to the injured hand, but also function. The key function of the thumb is called “opposition.” This describes the musculoskeletal potential of the thumb to touch or pinch against the other 4 fingers. The anatomical position of the thumb prosthesis relative to the other fingers enables the wearer to grasp objects more confidently and comfortably than they would by grasping objects in between the unaffected fingers. With the thumb prosthesis securely attached to the wearer objects such as papers, pencils, cups, cans, balls, and other items encountered in the activities of daily living (ADLs) may again be held in a natural way so function is restored. The restored length alone restores speed and effectiveness needed for many occupations. Design options and our knowledge of many silicones and other plastics allow us also to create a prosthesis that restores the ability to play musical instruments such as the guitar or piano.