Amputee and prosthetic help and imformation

Advances in prosthetics help U.S. soldiers

2007-07-16T08:03:00.000+01:00

Hundreds of American soldiers have returned from fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan as amputees, with more than 100 having lost multiple limbs. Fortunately, dramatic improvements in prosthetics are restoring mobility and productivity to these injured heroes.......

Here

Double amputee duped by conmen

2007-07-16T08:01:00.000+01:00

POLICE are searching for two conmen who targeted a wheelchair-bound pensioner just weeks after he lost his second leg to diabetes.......

Here

Appology to amputee firefighter

2007-07-16T07:57:00.000+01:00

A firefighter had to have his lower left leg amputated after a hospital failed to treat him properly.
Simon Hawkins, from Bromsgrove, was the first firefighter in the UK to work with a false leg......

Here

Amputee beaten with his prosthetic, then run over

2007-07-16T07:54:00.000+01:00

An amputee was jumped early Saturday by a group of men who took his prosthetic leg and then beat him with it. The four assailants then drove over Richard Kelly, 43, while he was lying on the ground, police said......

Here

Amputee Disqualified for Running Out of Lane

2007-07-16T07:47:00.000+01:00

SHEFFIELD, England, July 15 — A double-amputee sprinter who has divided and perplexed track officials and fans made his debut Sunday in competition against the highest level of able-bodied runners......here

ISELLA opens pathway to cheaper & safer prosthetic devices

2007-07-07T19:26:00.000+01:00

German researchers have successfully worked on a bionic robot arm after studying an elephant’s trunk as the basis of its design. The technology applied is hoped to be used within a couple of years in therapy, restoring the use of injured limbs while producing low cost, flexible prosthetic devices. Since ordinary robotic arms are way too expensive to build and dangerous to operate for the layman, this bionic robot arm dubbed ISELLA will be pocket friendly and gentle on humans. As mentioned, an elephant’s trunk was the inspiration for its design, and hence let’s delve into it further after the jump....

Full story here.

A nice amputee story.

2007-07-07T11:08:00.001+01:00

A 35-year-old amputee who uses a prosthetic leg has realized his boyhood dream of becoming a firefighter.....

A nice amputee story - here.

What is an amputee?

2007-07-06T13:20:00.001+01:00

Taken from Wikipedia

Amputation is the removal of a body extremity by trauma or surgery. A special case is the congenital amputation, a congenital disorder, where foetal limbs have been cut off by constrictive bands. As a surgical measure, it is used to control pain or a disease process in the affected limb, such as malignancy or gangrene. In some cases, it is carried out on individuals as a preventative surgery for such problems. In some countries, amputation of the hands or feet is sometimes used as a form of punishment for criminals. In some cultures and religions, minor amputations or mutilations are considered a ritual accomplishment. Unlike some animals, (such as lizards which shed their tails), once removed, human extremities do not grow back. A transplant or a prosthesis are the only options for recovering the loss.

Types of amputation include:
leg
amputation of digits
partial foot amputation (Chopart, Lisfranc)
ankle disarticulation (Syme, Pyrogoff)
below-knee amputation (transtibial)
knee-bearing amputation (knee disarticulation)
above knee amputation (transfemoral)
Van-ness rotation (Foot being turned around and reattached to allow the ankle joint to be used as a knee.)
hip disarticulation
hemipelvectomy
arm
amputation of digits
metacarpal amputation
wrist disarticulation
forearm amputation (transradial)
elbow disarticulation
above-elbow amputation (transhumeral)
shoulder disarticulation and forequarter amputation

Double amputee mom to receive prostheses

2007-07-06T11:08:00.000+01:00

A 28-year-old mother of two who is a bilateral amputee left Antigua on Tuesday to undergo prosthetic surgery.
A medical condition left Kesrie Davis with her left foot amputated below the knee and her right foot partially amputated leaving her with a small portion of her instep....

Here for the story.

British Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Amputee Rehabilitation

2007-07-06T11:05:00.000+01:00

A useful site.

The British Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Amputee Rehabilitation aims to promote best practice in the field of amputee and prosthetic rehabilitation for the benefit of patients and the profession. It is committed to research and education, providing a network for the dissemination of best practice in pursuit of excellence and equity, whilst maintaining cost effectiveness.

Here

The National Amputee Statistical Database

2007-07-06T11:02:00.000+01:00

The National Amputee Statistical Database (NASDAB) was set up in 1993 with the aim of investigating the feasibility of re-establishing a national amputee statistical database and to implement the collection of these data from systems within prosthetic centres across the UK. Following a considerable amount of exploratory work by a dedicated working party of consultants from the Amputee Medical Rehabilitation Society and Centre Managers, NASDAB achieved its present structure in May 1997.

Click here for the website.

Amputees and Prosthetics

2007-07-05T06:40:00.000+01:00

Amputees, false limbs, prosthetics. This is a great article!

Advances in Prosthetic Devices Offer Increased Freedom for AmputeesBy Aldene Fredenburg

Strong but lightweight materials and advances in technology have translated into more comfort and higher function for amputees.

In the past artificial limbs were made of wood and existed without moving joints, so that above the joint amputations in particular severely limited the mobility of the individual. In addition, the heavy wooden construction made the use of a prosthesis difficult and uncomfortable. Now, modern lightweight materials increase the comfort level of prosthetic use enormously, and new technology allows much more freedom of movement, even with above the joint amputations.

Prosthetic devices with moveable joints have gone through a number of transformations. Developing from a fairly clumsy mechanical joint to ones with robotic capability, joints have gone from operating using the musculature of the affected limb to being able to directly access electrical impulses from the body of the amputee, or from a computer within the artificial limb itself. In addition, robotic devices using built-in computer technology allow for much more subtle limb movements, allowing for more natural capability.

This new technology has translated into an immense sense of freedom for the amputee. People wearing these modern limbs are running marathons, participating in downhill ski competitions, and engaging in all sorts of sports and other recreational activities that were barred to them in the past. Perhaps even more importantly, they are more easily able to function in the everyday world, meeting work requirements along with their non-disabled coworkers, and keeping up with family and friends in their free time.

An Increase in Self-Esteem

When a previously able-bodied person is suddenly faced with amputation of one or more limbs, whether because of an accident, war injury, complications of diabetes, or cancer, the trauma of the situation is a blow to the individual's core identity. One's body image is shattered, and a host of fears set in: fear of losing mobility, becoming dependent on others for their basic care, of facing a lifetime of severely limited opportunities.
Being fitted with a modern, functional artificial limb and then learning to use it can seem like a kind of miracle. As people become more proficient and realize the possibilities opening up to them, their self-esteem soars, and they can begin to look forward to a productive, happy and option-filled life.

The Future of Prosthetics

The technology continues to improve in this important area of medicine. Currently, scientific researchers are perfecting a computerized robotic limb which can be directed by neuronal impulses in the brain - in other words by an individual's thoughts. As the science of prosthetics progresses, it promises to further enhance the lives of those maimed by amputation.
Aldene Fredenburg is a freelance writer living in southwestern New Hampshire and frequently contributes to Tips and Topics. She has published numerous articles in local and regional publications on a wide range of topics, including business, education, the arts, and local events. Her feature articles include an interview with independent documentary filmmaker Ken Burns and a feature on prisoners at the New Hampshire State Prison in Concord. She may be reached at amfredenburg@yahoo.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Aldene_Fredenburg