In the United States, approximately 185,000 people have an 截肢 each year, 507 people lose a limb each day, 和 2.1 million people currently live with limb loss. 到2050年，这一数字将达到3.6 million, according to the Amputee Coalition.
如果你缺了一条腿, a device called a prosthesis may help you perform daily activities such as walking, 吃, 或沙拉酱. This kind of artificial limb will allow you to function nearly as well as before you became an amputee.
如果你是截肢者, you've probably already faced one of the following reasons for the loss or removal of a finger, 脚趾, 手, 脚, 手臂, 或腿:
- 血管疾病，尤指来自 糖尿病 or 外周动脉疾病
- Traumatic injuries, including motor vehicle crashes, military combat, 和 work-related accidents
- Tissue destruction, infection, or disease that can't be repaired or that endangers your life
- 癌症
4到6周之后 手术, if your wound is fully healed 和 the swelling has been significantly reduced, DPT斯宾塞·汤普森报道, a doctor of 物理治疗 和 a board-certified specialist in neurological 物理治疗 specializing in the treatment of amputees at University of Utah Health, says you're ready to be evaluated 和 装上义肢的 由一个义肢专家.
Preparing for Your Prosthesis Fitting
You may need to work with your insurance company to ensure that you receive prior authorization before being fitted for your custom prosthesis.
You should select a prosthetist with whom you feel comfortable because you'll establish a lifelong relationship with them. You can find information about choosing a prosthetist by reviewing the brochure 病人 和 Prosthetist: Working Together for a Successful Outcome, 情况说明书 寻找认证的修复师，和 修复学家仪 that can filter your results based on preferred location, credentials, 和 hours.
Fitting 和 Assessing Your Prosthesis
Your prosthetist will develop a treatment plan 和 recommend a properly fit prosthesis to match the activity level for your occupational challenges, 爱好, 业余爱好, 总体健康目标. This will help you get back to an independent life.
Using a variety of techniques from 手crafted custom molds to 3D scanning, your prosthetist will find the device that fits your body best. This may include making a cast of your residual limb. The resulting cast will be used to create a temporary socket to connect your residual limb to the prosthetic limb.
在手术后的第一年, your body will undergo many changes requiring frequent visits to your prosthetist to assess your replacement limb for fit 和 function, 评估你的 残肢痛 和 幻肢疼痛, 和 continuously review pain management that combines medications, 生物力学评价, 治疗方法, 心理治疗.
Many 假肢 last for several years before needing to be replaced. The longevity of your prosthesis will depend on how often you wear 和 treat it, 身体变化, 活动水平. 在例行访问期间, your prosthetist will notice when parts of your prosthetic device wear out 和 need to be replaced.
Follow-up 培训 for Using Your Prosthesis
After you receive your custom-made prosthesis, you'll learn hygienic methods to keep the liner worn over your residual limb clean 和 how to protect your skin from being too wet or too dry. Liners fitting over your residual limb provide a barrier between your skin 和 the socket. Thompson encourages amputees with prosthetic limbs to try socks of various thicknesses worn over the liner to keep the socket fitting comfortably 和 correctly as the volume of your limb may change during the day or over time.
You'll also find out how to prevent muscle injuries in the healthy parts of your body by working with physical 和 职业治疗师 who'll teach you how to use your new prosthesis to achieve your fitness goals. Thompson guides new patients with prosthetic limbs to realize the benefits of exercise. "It's important to continue to work on hip muscle strength 和 balance that leads to greater success with walking with a prosthetic,他说.
You can consult another patient who has undergone 截肢 to answer your questions regarding their experience. Thompson recalls working with a heart attack victim who lost his leg due to blood clots. After a year in therapy with a prosthetic leg, the amputee is thriving 和 volunteers as a peer mentor who talks about his positive experience to new patients in the beginning stage of their 截肢.
访问截肢者联盟 如何寻求支持 page to explore ways to connect with individuals with limb loss locally 和 across the country. 了解更多信息, 有用的工具, 和资源, contact the National Limb Loss Resource Center at 888-267-5669 or via the form Ask an Information 和 Referral Specialist or U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: Rehabilitation 和 Prosthetic 服务.
By encouraging healthy living habits, 正念, 心理意象, 和 emotional support from family 和 friends, Thompson trusts that amputees with prosthetic limbs will continue to improve 和 return to the highest level of function 和 independence possible.
