Explore Our Upper Limb Services
What is an Upper Limb Prosthetic?
An upper-limb prosthesis is a custom-made device designed to replace part or all of a missing upper-limb. This can range from a device that replaces part of your hand, to a device that replaces your entire upper-limb including your shoulder, elbow and hand.
At right, Pricilla's new i-Digit Quantum prosthetic hand is fitted and calibrated for her needs. The prosthetic is fully customizable and functionality has made a marked improvement after only two weeks.
What are the components of an Upper-Limb Prosthesis?
The design of your upper-limb prosthesis will depend upon your anatomy, amputation level, current activity level and future functional goals. All upper-limb prostheses include up to three main elements:
Each of these components are critical in the facilitation of your recovery and the achievement of your goals.
At Eschen, our clinicians have dedicated their lives to treating limb-loss. With over 500 years of combined experience there’s nothing we haven’t seen and nothing we can’t do. To schedule a free evaluation for you or a family member click the link below.
What will my upper-limb prosthesis look like?
The design of your upper-limb prosthesis will depend upon your anatomy, amputation level, current activity level and future functional goals. Your prosthesis will be a reflection of you. It will be designed, customized, and fit to you - optimized to facilitate your recovery and the achievement of your goals. During your prosthetic evaluation, our prosthetist will take you through all aspects of prosthetic design, component selection, and fabrication, including materials, fit, function & cosmetic accessories.
For all patients, our goal is to expedite a return to independent living. For you, this may mean completing household chores, shopping, returning to work, or more involved activities such as sports and traveling.
What is the process for receiving an upper-limb prosthesis?
The process of receiving an upper-limb prosthesis will depend upon several factors, including:
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Are you a new amputee or an experienced wearer?
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How and when did you lose your limb(s)?
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How is the health and appearance of your residual and contralateral limb?
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What are your current activity levels and future functional goals?
These are just a few of the questions that will dictate the timeline and process for receiving your prosthesis. In general, the process for receiving an upper-limb prosthesis always includes the steps outlined here.
The prosthetic team at Eschen is proud to be a leading source and provider in upper-limb prosthetics.
What is the process like?
Devices such as these require the design and fitting of a socket that your residual limb will fit into and are supported with appropriate suspension.
The goal of the socket and suspension is to fit comfortably and allow you to move your arm safely while we restore some functionality to the limb. Our staff will work with you and your physician to design and fit a prosthesis that best fits your needs and goals.
For more on the overall prosthesis process, please visit our Patient Preparation Timeline.
Explore Upper-Limb Prosthetics
Upper-Limb Sockets
A prosthetic socket serves as the interface between your residual limb and the rest of your prosthesis. It’s what connects you to your arm. There are several common socket designs optimized for particular anatomies and activities. During your prosthetic evaluation, our prosthetist will review different socket designs and work with you to determine what you need. Socket selection and fit are the most important elements in your recovery and achieving your goals. Compared to other providers, Eschen has achieved leading Socket Comfort Scores based on feedback from our patients.
Passive + Cosmetic Prosthetics
Passive and cosmetic upper-limb prosthetics are designed to look realistic. They emphasize appearance over functionality. Passive and cosmetic arms support balance and offer great comfort, but their functionality is limited to that of a simple counter-support when handling objects. Some of the notable features of passive and cosmetic prostheses include:
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Skin tone match
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Tattoos
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Natural appearance
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Increased comfort
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Balance support
Body-Powered Prosthetics
Body-powered prostheses are devices that are manually controlled using other parts of your body, like your shoulders, elbows, and chest. Common manual control mechanisms include cables and harnesses that allow the wearer to control their prosthetic arm and hand. Body powered prostheses can accommodate a wide variety of activities including sports, heavy-duty labor, household chores, and driving. Unlike myoelectric devices, body powered prostheses do not rely on an outside power source to operate; they are extremely durable and great for use in rugged environments. The tradeoff for the durability and practicality offered by body powered prostheses is that they don’t have the same precision and fine motor features as myoelectric arms.
Myoelectric Prosthetics
Myoelectric prosthetics are devices controlled by electrical signals generated in your body. Myoelectric devices include prosthetic hands, wrists, and elbows. These devices represent the ultimate fusion of functionality and natural appearance. Designed to mimic human anatomy and motion, myoelectric prostheses are the closest alternative to an anatomical hand or arm. Advantages of myoelectric devices include:
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Natural arm and hand movements
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Intuitive control of arm and hand movements
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Handshake functions
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Adjustable thumbs to support a variety of activities
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“Smart” gripping to prevent dropping
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Low-profile design
Hybrid Prosthetics
Hybrid devices are often ideal when there is a need to control more than one movable component, like a hand and an elbow. The most common example of a hybrid prosthesis is an arm that combines a myoelectric hand and wrist with a body-powered elbow. In this example, the hand and wrist are controlled by the body’s electrical signals while the elbow is controlled by shoulder movements using a harness and cable system. Hybrid upper-limb prosthetics maximize versatility and functionality by combining components of myoelectric and body-powered prosthetics.
Upper-Limb Osseointegration
Osseointegration prosthetics are a very exciting advancement in upper-limb prosthetic care and technology. Combining state-of-the-art myoelectric components with osseointegration surgery represents a groundbreaking innovation. Depending on your anatomy, amputation level, current activity level and future functional goals, osseointegration may be right for you. Eschen is proud to be the leading provider of osseointegration prosthetics in the United States. If you are interested in exploring osseointegration prosthetics for yourself or a loved one, schedule a free consultation today.
What to Expect
The process for receiving an upper-limb prosthesis will depend upon several factors, including:
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Are you a new amputee or an experienced wearer?
-
How and when did you lose your limb(s)?
-
The health and appearance of your residual and contralateral limb.
-
Your current activity level and future functional goals.
These are just a few of the questions that will dictate the timeline and process for receiving your prosthesis. In general, the process for receiving an upper-limb prosthesis always includes the steps outlined here.
The prosthetic team at Eschen is proud to be a leading source and provider in upper-limb prostheses.
Upper-Limb Prosthetics Gallery
Why Choose Eschen?
Eschen is proud to be a global leader in prosthetic and orthotic care. As a thought leader and innovator in the field, we are able to offer an unparalleled patient experience and superior outcomes compared to other leading providers.
Effectively providing prosthetics and orthotics requires the coordinated care of a team of medical experts, and Eschen is proud to partner with experts in the fields of orthopedic surgery, physical medicine and rehabilitation, 3D printing, and biomechanical engineering.
Unlike most orthotic and prosthetic providers who are comprised of generalists, Eschen is proud to have built a world-class team of specialists in the areas of:
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Pediatrics
At Eschen, our clinicians have dedicated their careers to providing prosthetic and orthotic care. With over 500 years of combined experience there’s nothing we haven’t seen and nothing we can’t do.
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Our Mission
Our mission is to maximize the quality of life of our patients and provide an unparalleled patient-centered experience by mobilizing world-class clinicians, healthcare administrators, and institutional partnership in delivering top-of-the-line prosthetic and orthotic services. Our clinicians and administrators have over 500 years of combined experience. Unlike most orthotic and prosthetic providers who are comprised of generalists, Eschen is proud to have built a world-class team of specialists in the areas of: Prosthetics, Orthotics, Sports Bracing, Pediatrics and Scoliosis.
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