When we have all our body parts present and working fine, rarely do we think about how it would be if it weren’t so. People may be born with abnormalities or can lose some body parts to accidents or diseases. Here PROSTHETICS come into the picture. Prosthetics is a medical technology, which is the art of making various artificial body parts, which make it possible for people to live a better life. Prosthesis refers to the artificial body parts used by people, like hands, legs, eyes, etc. Even dentures we use are kind of prosthetics. The prime utility of prosthetics devices is providing people with better quality of life by making them mobile and independent. Of course, there are pros and cons, a few of which are listed below:
Pros
- Many people opt for prosthesis to look normal and not out of place. It also gives them a boost of self-esteem.
- For amputees, it can help them perform everyday tasks without having to rely on others. For example, artificial legs can help people walk almost normally. They no longer need a crutch, walking stick, or wheelchair.
- It helps people conserve their energy to use it productively, as otherwise, they have to put more effort into going around and do their work.
- It extends people’s lifespan, as they can carry on with their everyday activities, and it gives an appositive mindset.
- People with prosthesis limbs even run marathons and participate in various tournaments.
Cons
- The biggest con is the high cost, especially the customized ones. Some people who badly need it can not afford it. However, this is slowly changing in India with many innovations in the low-cost and affordable prosthesis.
- The other biggest con is skin irritation at the site where the artificial limb is fitted. Of course, one will get medical help to deal with the issues.
- Also, people will have to undergo physiotherapy for some time with the prosthesis to get used to it, especially for the latest ones that also make movements with artificial limbs. This process can be time-consuming, like relearning to use a limb. Sometimes, there could be some mild adjustments that people will have to get used to some fitting issues.
Types of prosthesis
Predominantly, there are four types of prosthesis available for the limbs. These are customizable, though the process is slightly longer for the same
- A trans-radial prosthesis replaces the arm below the elbow. These new options of being cable operated or myoelectric. They use muscular signals to sense when the replaced hand needs to open or close.
- A transhumeral prosthesis replaces the arm above the elbow. Though there are options with movements as above, the range is limited and challenging.
- The transtibial prosthesis replaces the leg below the knee. People regain normal movement more easily with this prosthesis as the knee joint helps the movement.
- The transfemoral prosthesis replaces the leg above the knee. It is tough to regain normal function in such prosthesis due to the complexities of the missing knee.
The materials used to create prosthetic limbs are acrylic resin, silicon, carbon fibre, aluminum, titanium, and thermoplastics. These are also made with skin-like covering if people prefer the prosthesis to look like normal limbs.
For the eye, the prosthesis is used for appearance and not for vision. People prefer an artificial eye to use dark patches on the eye. It is made of hard acrylic plastic and is called a glass eye. An ocular implant surgery gets done, after which you can fit the prosthesis into the eye socket.
The dental prosthesis comes as crowns, implants, bridges, veneers, and dentures. Depending on your need, the dentist will suggest you opt for the right one. Dentists fix a crown after a root canal surgery, implants replace a missing tooth, and bridges fill gaps of missing teeth. Dentures are false teeth that help us eat normally. The materials used for these are metal and porcelain. Veneers help improve the tooth’s appearance. The material used is porcelain or a resin composite.
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Anil Malik
Mumbai, India
20th March 2023