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This is a very interesting and informative article on the pre-prosthetic treatment OT gives a client. The client will be assessed by OT for things like ROM, scar management, pain, phantom pain and sensation, and desensitization. Client interview helps the practitioner choose a correct prosthetic. Always consider the psychosocial aspect. There are different things to consider if the amputation is unilateral or bilateral. The OT will help prepare the limb to wear the prosthetic. Mirror therapy can be used as a treatment option for phantom pain. The OT will help in ADL training, stump care, prosthetic care, and psychosocial care.

This youtube video by Markerbot and Robohand shows how two men use a 3D printer to design and make prosthetic hands.  The 3D printer allowed them to make cost effective mechanical hands for boys born without hands.  The mechanical hands work due to 'tenodesis grasp'.  The video specifies the need for an OT to strengthen the wrist for better use of the hand and a need for an OT to fit the gauntlet and hand cap.  Is this the future of prosthetics?  The possibilities of 3D printing are limitless when being used to make not only prosthetic hands but various adaptive equipment solutions for all populations.

Great video Kellie!

This story is about a firefighter who lost his arm fighting a fire. His arm was amputated and the he was fitted with a prosthetic. He worked with an OT and prosthetic forever! He wanted to be able to return to his dream job of fighting a fire! He worked very hard and he had his share of his ups and downs. I am not going to tell you all the ending, so please read it. It is not long at all and will take you 10 minutes at the max.

CBS Evening News video of prosthetic device

This site lists and gives a great diagram of the levels of UE amputation. It also describes the different types of prosthetics and what they are best used for.

About a year ago, Zac Vawter climbed all 103 flights of stairs of the Willis Tower in Chicago. On its own, this accomplishment would be pretty unremarkable, but Vawter, who lost his leg four years ago during a motorcycle accident, happened climb more than 2,000 steps while wearing a prosthetic leg.. This is so awesome! I love searching to see where the future of prosthetics is going.

This story is about a teenager who has invented a prosthetic arm that can be made for $1,000. He's put the 3-D pattern and how to make it online, opening it up for anyone who would like to use it or improve upon it. The story is inspiring about a young man that wants to do good for others.

Great catalog for prosthetics

I found some very interesting information about upper extremity amputation. The article tells about the procedure and the role of the occupational therapist in the recovery process. With this procedure, an electrical prosthesis is controlled by the mind via nerve innervation. The nerves from the amputated arm are transferred to the pectoral muscles where they regenerate, which in turn allows movement of the prosthetic arm. I included this link from another website as well because there are videos available to watch. http://www.ric.org/conditions/prosthetics-orthotics/bionic/

Relevant to chapter 33 for Exam II, I found this article explaining early postoperative prosthesis for transtibial lower extremity amputations. It has pictures of the prosthetic and wrappings, as well as, proper pillow propping and bed positioning.

I know I keep posting little kids with prosthetics but they are so inspirational. In class yesterday, Teri was talking about "fit to sit" meaning that the best time to introduce a child to a prosthetic device is when they are around 6 months old (when they begin sitting unsupported and are involving their hands to reach). This short video is a great example of a family who did this with their daughter. She is very active and doesn't let her missing arm affect her life.

This is an easy-to-understand webpage that describes the parts of a LE prosthesis. The material is more descriptive and more current, in my opinion, than what appears in our textbook. It also includes sections on prosthesis fitting and care of the residual limb. This resource would be good to recommend to a patient prior to or shortly after amputation. It also has professional version of the same material.

This short video shows how a prosthetic hand is made from a 3D printer. At the TNOTA Conference last year, a presenter described the impact of 3D printing on manufacturing in general and on OT interventions specifically. Prosthetics can now be much more customized to the needs of the patient, more aesthetically appealing, quicker to make, and much less expensive. The possibilities of use of 3D printing with disabled individuals are nearly limitless.

One of my husband's co-workers has a 3-D printer. Those things are changing our world! I love this!

This is realy neat Beth! I like that is is much less expensive and I actually think these look less like prothetics and more on the advanced robotic side. With practice a person could make alot of heads turn in a curious way when out in public with one of these 3D devices!

Video from the American Orthotics and Prosthetics Conference showing some new products. One that caught my eye was a socket interface for shoulder dis-articulation by Martin Bionics.

This is an article about prosthetics. I thought it would tie in good with our class discussion. What I really like about the way this article is wrote, is that for OT it tells information that relates to our field. I like these articles on the AOTA website.

I was reading Early Chapter 33 Amputation and Prosthetics, and there was a paragraph regarding future developments and plans of action. Here, Osseointegration was mentioned, and I had never heard of this term. So, here is an article that describes the process - basically an implant is inserted into the bone of the residual limb. The prosthetic can be attached to this and a socket is not needed. This article talks about the benefits and drawbacks.

This is a really great article form AOTA about the Occupational practitioners role in rehabilitation for someone with an UE amputation. It breaks the rehabilitation down into stages: Acute Phase --> Pre-Prosthetic Training Phase --> Basic Prosthetic Training Phase --> Advanced Prosthetic Phase--> Discharge Planning

This is just a brief fact sheet from the AOTA on UE amputations and OTs role in the treatment of clients living with one. There is statistical information regarding amputations, how OT can help, and OTs specific role in the treatment.

Tons of information of UE amputation! Might be a good handout to give to a patient on educating how you are going to help them throughout the road to recovery. It also talks about prosthesis training when you get to that point in therapy.

New Technology for a Prosthesis.

The mission of the VA Center of Excellence for Limb Loss Prevention and Prosthetic Engineering is to provide broad based investigators the opportunity to conduct basic and clinical research and effectively disseminate their findings in an effort to impact the quality of life and functional status of veteran amputees and veterans who are at risk for amputation.