Prosthetic Legs

A prosthetic leg is an artificial limb designed to replace a missing leg. A prosthetic leg can be used for congenital defects (being born without a leg), a disease that requires amputation or an accident that has caused the loss of the limb. Long ago, the conventional prosthesis was made of wood. In recent years, prosthetic legs have become more realistic-looking and comfortable due to the development of new materials and biomedical sophistication.
To develop a prosthetic leg, the designer creates a plaster cast of the stump and makes a mold. Laser methods can be used to configure with computerized information, creating a more sophisticated design. A socket is custom-made to establish a comfortable fit, which also reduces wear on the stump. The prosthetic leg is then attached to the leg stump with belts, cuffs or suction.

What to Look for

There are two types of prosthetic legs. A trans-tibial prosthesis replaces a leg that is missing below the knee, allowing the person to achieve normal movement quickly due to the retention of the knee. A trans-femoral prosthesis replaces a missing leg above knee. This model makes it a bit harder to gain normal movement since the person must use more energy to walk due to the complexities in the prosthetic knee.
New developments in the manufacture of prosthetic legs has led to the use of carbon fiber, which is strong and light, requiring for less energy to operate the limb while additionally making the limb seem more realistic. Where cable-operated limbs were the norm in past years, doctors are now using "myoelectric" limbs, where the limb is controlled by converting muscle movement to an electric signal. This allows the amputee to control the limb with greater ease.
Direct bone attachment is another method of applying a prosthetic leg. Here a titanium bolt is inserted into the bone at end of the stump. After several months, the bone attaches itself to the bolt, and a requisite abutment is attached to the bolt. The abutment sticks out of the stump, and the limb is then attached, allowing for greater muscle control. With direct bone attachment, the amputee can wear the prosthetic leg for longer periods of time since there is no wear and tear on the socket. Additionally, this attachment makes it easy for the amputee to drive a car, which is not always the case in other leg-replacement techniques.

Common Pitfalls

A prosthetic leg can cause a great deal of friction between the stump and socket areas. This can cause pain as well as a breakdown of tissue, which limits the amount of time the prosthetic leg can be worn. If the amputee has a direct bone attachment, he must be careful to avoid impact on the limb, since the bone is vulnerable to breakage.