Finger Amputee Guide Book

Excerpts from our soon to be released guide.

Karl Lindborg – CPO/LP –

For individuals who are missing a finger or fingers on one or both hands, this loss has a profound effect on their lives socially, physically and emotionally.

Whether the finger is partially missing or entirely missing, is congenital, traumatic or a disease related condition, the person with the remaining partial hand and finger(s) will experience conditions in everyday life that will minimally or dramatically alter the way a task is achieved compared to someone who has two fully functioning hands.

While it is well known that those with congenital limb loss adapt early on to their missing limb, developmentally, social stigmas will become present as well as emotional and physical impairments later in life. This occurs with traumatic and disease related losses as well but in has been my experience that it presents in differently with congenital cases.

Tim Bump – MSPO, CPO

Our role as a Prosthetist is to provide you with the prosthetic options available for your unique situation. Based on your goals and your limb difference presentation, we work with your Physicians, Therapists, and other team members, to help return as much function to you as possible. 

Partial hand and finger amputations shouldn’t be written off.

Our fingers and hands are so unique, how we use them for tasks is complex, and nothing we can do in the field of prosthetics right now fully replaced all the intricacies of the hand. But that doesn’t mean prosthetics aren’t functional, or helpful. It just means that often multiple types of prosthetics may be necessary to accomplish all the tasks in your everyday life.

While awareness is growing, there are still some medical professionals and individuals with limb difference who are not aware there are multiple functional prosthetic and surgical options available now that didn’t exist 5-10 years ago.

And the list is growing!

Diane Atkins – OTR
Skilled occupational therapy is an essential factor in the success of any prosthetic user. The background and experience of the OT, specifically with amputees, is an important factor to ensure a successful outcome with a partial hand device.

The psychological impact of the loss of part of a hand can be as devastating, if not more so, than the loss of an arm below or above the elbow. The OT can offer support and reassurance throughout the pre-prosthetic and prosthetic training process.

During the healing phase, OT’s can place an emphasis on wound care, controlling edema, desensitization, maintaining passive and active range of motion, massage to maintain skin mobility, and mirror therapy if phantom pain is a problem.

Exploring important and realistic ADL goals will be an essential part of the therapy program.