Phantom-limb pain is a common sequela of amputation, occurring in up to 80% of people who undergo the procedure. It must be differentiated from non-painful phantom phenomena, residual-limb pain, and non-painful residual-limb phenomena. Central changes seem to be a major determinant of phantom-limb pain; however, peripheral and psychological factors may contribute to it. A comprehensive model of...

Infected nonunions are potentially difficult complications to treat in the context of complex tibial fractures. Often, such complications necessitate amputation to prevent further sequelae, such as fulminant sepsis and complete loss of the limb. As such, the eradication of infection, the decision regarding when to amputate, and the length of the residual stump are important factors to optimize ...

Consensus is still lacking on how best to capture the shape of a residual limb. Computer-aided design systems have not proven more accurate, repeatable, or reliable than traditional plaster of paris methods. Research is limited in design, relates to clinical trials, and is based on opinions and clinical experience. Many outcome measurements are based on qualitative estimations of prosthetic fit...

A pilot study was undertaken to evaluate the clinical acceptance of prosthetic limb sockets manufactured using solid freeform fabrication (SFF). The fabrication of sockets for amputees is a natural application for SFF. The socket is the part of the prosthetic limb that fits onto the amputee’s residual limb. Each socket is custom manufactured for each individual amputee. Four amputees were succe...

The human history has been accompanied by accidental trauma, war, and congenital anomalies. Consequently, amputation and deformity have been dealt with, one way or another, throughout the ages. More than one million individuals in the United States today are living with limb amputations (Adams et al., 1999), in which there are approximately 100,000 patients with an upper limb amputation. The wa...

The insulated environment of the lower-limb prosthesis can result in elevated residual-limb skin temperatures that may contribute to skin irritation, blistering, and a reduced quality of life. The design and materials of the prosthetic socket, suspension system, and liner can potentially alleviate these conditions, but the thermal load may vary with activity and location within the socket. To c...