Prosthetic Index Finger for Dominican Republic Weightlifter
We recently delivered a custom life-like index finger prosthesis to an international client from Dominican Republic. Neira came with her parents from Miami Florida to work with Danielle Burgess and Greg Gion in our Tampa, Florida location. After a few days, Neira received a very accurately rendered prosthetic finger complete with all the nailbed color characteristics. Here is how the process works when patients prefer to travel to one of our locations, stay just a few days for the fitting sessions, and then fly or drive home wearing their new prosthesis.
Creating Prosthetic Fingers is Serious, But Can be Fun Too
The first day we met Neira and her parents in our prearranged professional office suites located very near Tampa International Airport. Neira and her parents were so friendly and anxious to get started on the process. After getting to know each other briefly over coffee and going over the various sessions we got down to business by getting some accurate silicone impressions of Neira’s affected index finger and the left index finger as well. Later the same day we tried on a check socket to make sure of a good fit and a wax prototype to dial in the correct length, angulation and rotation.
A Time Tested Prosthetic Finger Process
The morning of day 2 we double checked our measurements, formulated colors for all the various colors in the skin and nailbed and took high quality photos which are invaluable as references as we execute molding and coloring in our labs. The remainder of the day we painstakingly refine and invest the sculpting to create the mold followed by silicone packing and processing. These basic steps are shown here.
For Weightlifters: You Activity-Specific Finger Prosthesis is Ready
Day 3 we carefully trimmed and fit the finger prosthesis onto Neira’s index finger. The color match was very close and needed very little stain adjustment and sealing. In view of the distance they traveled Neira, and her family asked to have a second prosthesis. Since Neira was as avid weightlifter it was decided to create the duplicate finger prosthesis in monochromatic HCR, short for high consistency rubber. This would give her maximum durability of her prosthetic finger with less concern about deteriorating the surface finish and texture details.
3 Days is Typical for Most Finger Prosthesis Cases
Neira was finished at the end of Day 3, but since she wanted the duplicate we had her back on the 4th and final day to deliver and check both finger prostheses. She flew home with prosthetics that could last her 3 years or more but also knowing additional duplicate prostheses would be available and easily produced from the original mold. And because we recorded coloration with our saved color swatches duplicates can be easily processed from the mold and mailed at considerably less cost than the original prosthesis.
Adding Access to and Training in Clinical Anaplastology
Our 40-year specialty practice continues to receive new clients like Neira in new locations with talented medical artists training alongside certified clinical anaplastologists. This is currently happening in Tampa, Florida, Madison, Wisconsin, and Chicago, Illinois, while additional veteran MAP anaplastologists are available in our other US locations. Medical Art Prosthetics is committed to guiding patients to the artistic anaplastologist who can most conveniently and effectively meet their needs. See more examples of our prosthetic finger results as well as examples of thumb prostheses here.
Comprehensive Solutions for Partial Hand Amputation and Limb Loss
We also provide silicone partial hand prosthetics for maximum aesthetics and natural appearance as well as functional devices that are built and fit to restore maximum activities of daily living (ADLs). See some examples and FAQs here.
