Prosthesis

From Encyclopedia Jr, free information reference for Kids

A United States Army soldier plays foosball with two prosthetic arms

Jon Comer, professional skateboarder with a prosthetic leg.

In medicine, a prosthesis is an artificial extension that replaces a missing body part. Prostheses are typically used to replace parts lost by injury (traumatic) or missing from birth (congenital) or to supplement defective body parts.

Within science fiction, and, more recently, within the scientific community, there has been consideration given to using advanced prostheses to replace healthy body parts with artificial mechanisms and systems to improve function. Although no such "enhancement prosthetics" have yet been created and demonstrated to work for healthy individuals, the morality and desirability of such technologies is debated. Body parts such as legs, arms, hands, feet, and most other body parts can be replaced.

[edit] Types

Some types of prosthetics include:

• Artificial limbs
• Breast prosthesis (after mastectomy)
• Cochlear implants
• Corrective lenses
• Hair prosthesis
• Facial prosthetics
• Maxillofacial prosthetics
• Neuroprosthetics
• Ocular prosthetics
• Replacement joints (such as hips)
• Somato prosthetics
• Surgical prosthetics
• Transtibial prosthesis

[edit] See also

• Orthosis
• Prosthetics in fiction
• Open Prosthetics Project

[edit] External links

• Amputee Coalition of America has many articles on prosthetics and choosing an O&P provider
• Prosthetics History
• Knee Replacement Surgery
• Never Been Done — Documentary about an athlete with a prosthetic leg
• National Amputee Centre — Information about artificial limbs
• The UMC St Radboud Amputee Team Website - Information for lower limb amputees including prosthesis alignment, tuning and socket design