Prosthesis

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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
• Craniofacial prosthesis
• Dental / Maxillofacial prosthetics (in cleft palate, dentures, dental restorations)
• Facial prosthetics
• Hair prosthesis
• Neuroprosthetics
• Ocular prosthetics
• Ostomies (colostomy, ileostomy, urostomy)
• Penile prosthetics
• Replacement joints (such as hips)
• Somato prosthetics
• Surgical prosthetics
• Prosthetic testis
• Transtibial prosthesis

[edit] See also

• Prosthetist
• Prosthodontics (dental)
• Orthosis
• Prosthetics in fiction
• Open Prosthetics Project
• Artificial powered exoskeleton
• Face implants

[edit] External links

• American Board for Certification in Orthotics and Prosthetics, Inc is the national certifying and accrediting body for the orthotic and prosthetic professions.
• 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
• O&PCare has a complete glossary relating to the field of prosthetics