Summary

Finger/partial hand amputation – what now?

Our hands combine sensory, motor as well as social functions. They are always visible – and are a way of introducing ourselves when giving a first impression: Are our hands clean? Are the fingernails cared for? We often shake hands when greeting each other. Concluding a contract is sealed with a handshake. As an amputee, how do I handle such situations with my amputation?

Today, amputated limbs can be replaced with a hand and finger prosthesis. These prostheses are made of silicone and look deceptively real. A silicone hand or finger prosthesis often goes unnoticed at first in everyday life.

Causes

Causes for the amputation

What are the reasons for a finger or hand amputation?

Doctors always try to avoid a finger or hand amputation. Thanks to advances in surgery, fingers and hands can be preserved along with their functions in an increasing number of cases. However, amputations may be unavoidable to maintain your health on a sustainable basis in the event of severe diseases or injuries.

Accidents (trauma) are the most common cause for finger amputations. An accident may occur at work or during recreation, for example, while working a trade or participating in sports. Accidents are a cause for amputations that can occur in all age groups. Congenital limb differences (dysmelia) are another possible cause. Limb differences may be caused by a genetic defect, by external factors such as infections or as a side effect of medications (for example, thalidomide in the drug Contergan).

Replantation – not always an option

A severed finger or hand can be reattached in some cases (replantation). A replantation is always a difficult operation. It represents a highly complex task for the surgeon, especially in the area of the hand. A prerequisite for replantation is that the severed body part reaches the surgeon in as unaltered a condition as possible.

The severed limb should be protected from moisture. Pack it

1. dry in sterile bandages

2. then in a plastic bag with a water-tight seal

To cool the limb during transportation, the sealed bag with the limb should be placed in a mixture of water and ice. The body part must not come into direct contact with water or ice.

Amputation level

What amputation types are there?

Our hands enable us to execute a variety of complex movements, so we use our fingers and hands for many different purposes every day.

Your surgeon will do everything in their power to preserve as much of your hand as possible. Hand and finger amputations are performed at various heights called amputation levels.

The extent of the injury determines the amputation level. When the entire hand has to be amputated at the wrist, this is known as a hand amputation. A finger amputation is when one or more fingers have to be amputated. Any amputation between a finger and hand amputation is a partial hand amputation.

The new hand

After an amputation, modern orthopaedic technology makes it possible to treat the affected hand with a hand, partial hand or finger prosthesis.

The design of your hand or finger prosthesis depends on the amputation level: if the residual limb length is at least 2 cm after a finger amputation, fitting a silicone finger prosthesis is generally possible. If the residual limb is shorter or part of the hand is missing, a silicone partial hand prosthesis is used.

Incidentally, the number of amputated fingers has no influence on the decision to carry out a fitting with finger prostheses or a partial hand prosthesis.

It’s impossible to make a general prediction about which functions your hand will be able to perform again with a prosthesis, or what your hand will look like after an amputation. The residual limb situation varies considerably between individuals. Questions regarding this are answered during an individual consultation and in the trial phase of treatment with a prosthesis.

A man in a brown sweater grasping a log of wood with his custom-made Ottobock hand prosthetic

What are the benefits of a finger/partial hand prosthesis made of silicone?

Your silicone prosthesis fulfils numerous technical and social functions. The following is a summary of what a silicone prosthesis has to offer:

Secure fixation
Very comfortable to wear
Thin socket brims
Good skin compatibility
Anatomically correct shape
Aesthetic design
Easy handling
Easy care

The prosthetic socket provides secure fixation and is very comfortable to wear. The socket forms the link between your residual limb and the prosthesis. It is custom fabricated for your residual limb. The prosthetic socket uses a vacuum to create a firm, direct connection between the prosthesis and your residual limb. As a result, the finger prosthesis is reliably fixed to the residual limb in any position and during all grasping movements.

At the same time, the custom fabricated prosthetic socket is very comfortable to wear thanks to the use of materials with different degrees of hardness. This is particularly advantageous for users with problem areas on their residual limb – for example, when the skin on the residual limb is especially sensitive, or the end of the residual limb is bony.

While this may sound strange, the aesthetics as such represent a function: when you accept how your hand looks, you won’t hide it in your pocket. The anatomically correct shape and colour of the hand are restored to look deceptively real, ensuring relaxed interactions with others – a key aspect in helping you integrate into everyday social and professional life.

FirstSpiritExport,OBISCM-1557,web_site,prosthetics_2,living_with_finger_amputation