The Muenster-type Below-elbow Socket, an Evaluation.

SHORT stumps have always presented fitting problems in both upperand lower-extremity amputation sites for the obvious reasons of small attachment area and a lack of useful range of motion. In an attempt to alleviate these problems for upper-extremity amputees, Drs. O. Hepp and G. G. Kuhn (1) of Minister, Germany, developed fitting techniques for the below-elbow and the above-elbow amputee, respectively, that provide a more intimate encapsulation of short stumps. For the below-elbow amputee, the general characteristics of this technique (Fig. 1) are: