prostetics

Prosthetics are devices designed to replace missing body parts and restore function and appearance. They include artificial limbs, facial prostheses, ocular prostheses, and dental prostheses. The most common applications are limb prosthetics, which replace an arm, hand, leg, or foot after amputation or congenital absence and are customized to the user’s anatomy and activity level.

Limb prosthetics are divided into upper-limb and lower-limb devices. Upper-limb systems range from body-powered hooks to myoelectric hands that use muscle signals; lower-limb devices replace the leg or foot and may be socket-based or implanted (osseointegrated). Devices vary from cosmetic models to powered, multi-joint units.

A typical prosthesis comprises a socket, a pylon or frame, and a terminal device or foot. Control methods include body-powered cables, myoelectric signals, and increasingly neural interfaces. Emerging approaches seek more natural control and sensory feedback.

Fitting and rehabilitation require a prosthetist and multidisciplinary care. Activities include socket fabrication and alignment, gait or object manipulation training, skin care, and gradual adaptation to use of the device. Regular maintenance and follow-up are common.

Advances in prosthetics include 3D printing for rapid customization, lighter materials, and modular designs; osseointegration for direct bone attachment; and innovations in neural control and haptic feedback. Access, cost, and ongoing care remain major challenges in many regions.