Overview of limb prosthetics

[Jessica]

A limb prosthesis is an artificial limb that replaces a missing body part, usually because it has been amputated.
The main causes of limb amputation are

Blood vessel (vascular) disease, particularly from diabetes or peripheral arterial disease
Cancer
Injury (for example, from a motor vehicle crash, work-related accident, or military combat)
Birth defect

In the United States, about 1 in 200 people are currently living with the loss of a limb, and about 500 amputations are done each day. This percentage is likely to increase because, as the population ages, more people will develop diabetes and vascular disease.
For people who have had an amputation, a prosthesis (artificial limb) is often recommended to replace that body part. At a minimum, a prosthesis should enable the person to perform daily activities (such as walking, eating, and dressing) independently and comfortably. At best, a prosthesis may enable the person to function as well or nearly as well as before the amputation.
Success with a prosthesis is most likely to occur when the clinical team involved has many different types of professionals, depending on the person’s needs. At a minimum, core team members include the surgeon, prosthetist, and physical therapist. Prosthetists are experts who evaluate the amputee