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Prosthetic devices can be game-changing for patients who have experienced limb loss or who were born with a limb difference. Prostheses enable people to live productive and rewarding lives by helping to support their function, mobility and independence.

There are countless options available to patients to meet a wide variety of individual conditions and needs. Shirley Ryan ÌÀÍ·Ìõapp offers the following guide to common terminology.

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A prosthesis is a device commonly referred to as an artificial or prosthetic limb. Think of it like a replacement part for the body, beneficial for people who are either born with a limb difference or who have experienced limb loss due to an accident or an amputation. Generally, patients wear their prosthesis during the day so they can function and participate in daily activities, and then they remove it at night.

Through physical and occupational therapy, as well as pre-prosthesis training, patients learn how to put on and remove their prosthetic limb; use it effectively; and clean, care for and maintain it as an essential piece of equipment for their functional ability.

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A residual limb is the part of the arm or leg that remains after an amputation. While patients may refer to this as their ¡°stump,¡± the clinical ¡ª and preferred ¡ª term is residual limb.

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A prosthesis is comprised of several key components to ensure fit, comfort and function. These can include the following:

• Socket: The socket is the part of the prosthesis into which the residual limb fits. Patients may put socks, a gel or foam liner on their limb first, before putting it into the socket.
• Pylon: This is a metal tube that connects different components of a prosthesis, such as connecting the socket to the foot or to the knee.
• Prosthetic joint: There are a wide variety of external prosthetic joints that help with movement and range of motion. For example, a prosthetic knee joint allows patients to bend their knee, while a prosthetic elbow joint enables patients to bend their arm.
• Prosthetic foot: A prosthetic foot is usually made of carbon fiber and sits inside a foot shell. The patient then inserts the foot into a shoe. Many different feet are available and customized for patients to facilitate safety and ease of use for walking and navigating terrain.
• Prosthetic terminal device: A terminal device is the part of the upper-limb prosthesis that allows the user to interact with their environment. They can come in a variety of shapes and sizes but are generally categorized as follows:
  • Prosthetic hand: Prosthetic hands most closely resemble an anatomic hand shape. The hand can be passive (no movement) or parts of it can move for functional grasps.
  • Prosthetic hook: The prosthetic hook is a common prosthetic terminal device as it allows for improved grip strength and for the user to better see the task they are working on as the tines or ¡°fingers¡± of a prosthetic hook are smaller and curved compared to a prosthetic hand.
  • Activity-specific terminal device: Interested in basketball, baseball or weightlifting? Activity-specific terminal devices allow for participation in specific tasks.

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Patients often receive a prosthetic limb to replace their arm or leg after an amputation. As such, it¡¯s helpful to understand the most common types of lower- and upper-limb amputation.

Common types of lower-limb amputation include:

• TT: Transtibial, or amputation through the tibia (shin bone), commonly referred to as a below-the-knee amputation or BK
• TF: Transfemoral, or amputation through the femur (thigh bone), commonly referred to as an above-the-knee amputation or AK
• KD: Knee disarticulation, or amputation through the knee joint
• HD: Hip disarticulation, or amputation through the hip joint
• Hemipelvectomy: Amputation of the entire leg through the pelvis
• Ankle disarticulation or Syme¡¯s amputation: Amputation through the ankle joint
• Partial foot amputation: In addition, there are many types of partial foot amputation, depending on where in the foot the amputation occurs.

Common types of upper-limb amputation include:

• TR: Transradial, or amputation through the radius and ulna (lower arm), commonly referred to as below-the-elbow amputation
• TH: Transhumeral, or amputation through the humerus (upper arm), commonly referred to as above-the-elbow amputation
• ED: Elbow disarticulation, or amputation through the elbow joint
• SD: Shoulder disarticulation, or amputation through the shoulder joint
• WD: Wrist disarticulation, or amputation through the wrist joint
• Partial hand or partial finger amputation

These terms can describe a patient¡¯s amputation or their prosthesis. As an example, a patient can have a transtibial amputation and wear a transtibial prosthesis, or a below-the-knee prosthesis.

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Patients often work with a ¡°CPO,¡± which stands for certified prosthetist orthotist, when they receive a prosthesis.

These healthcare professionals specialize in designing and fitting orthotic and prosthetic devices for patients with varying abilities. They work directly with patients and assess their strength, range of motion, lifestyle and desired functional activities to design a device that is specific to a patient and their goals.

Some clinicians may be certified specifically in a single discipline ¡ª as a certified prosthetist (CP) or a certified orthotist (CO). At Shirley Ryan ÌÀÍ·Ìõapp, all CPOs, COs and CPs are certified by the American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics & Pedorthics, as well as licensed by the state of Illinois.

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Specializing in designing and fitting custom devices for both adults and children, Shirley Ryan ÌÀÍ·Ìõapp has deep expertise in complex prostheses, including but not limited to: 

• Microprocessor lower-limb prostheses
• Multi-limb prostheses
• Upper-limb prostheses including body-powered, myoelectric and activity-specific
• Hip disarticulation prostheses
• Custom silicone prostheses
• Activity-specific prostheses

Through a multidisciplinary approach, Shirley Ryan ÌÀÍ·Ìõapp¡¯s team collaborates with patients to provide the right device for their individual ability goals. Services are available for patients across Shirley Ryan ÌÀÍ·Ìõapp¡¯s continuum of care: inpatient, DayRehab and outpatient locations in downtown Chicago and throughout the suburbs. 

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