Prosthetics for complete right leg amputee?!
Question: My father had his right leg amputated above the hip yesterday and I was wondering if anyone knows if they make a prosthetic limb to accomodate such amputees? Thank you in advance for any helpful information.
Answers: My father had his right leg amputated above the hip yesterday and I was wondering if anyone knows if they make a prosthetic limb to accomodate such amputees? Thank you in advance for any helpful information.
I know a kid that was born with out a hip and he wears a prosthetic. Some people with such a high amputation choose not to wear a prosthetic but it is an option.
The socket is sort of a bucket. Because there isn't anything to grab on to with the remaining leg. So the socket would strap around the waist to secure it on. Then your Father would have an artificial hip that would act as a regular hip allowing him to sit and walk comfortably. Next there will be an artificial knee which being an above knee amp I know a little more about. When he first starts walking he's going to have a knee that locks firm so that he won't fall as often. There are knees that have different levels of activity so he would probably have a low one to start out. As he gets more comfortable he may choose a more active knee.
Then there is the foot there are lots of durable strong feet out there. unfortunately I have broken many of them. Then again I'm 21 years old and I'm sure your father isn't as rowdy.
If you don't want the leg to be a bare metal there are hard and soft coverings you can get. You can even get coverings that look like skin but these are very pricy.
high amputations like that are going to take a lot of work to move around in. The high up the amputation the more energy needed. The kid I know doesn't walk with a cane but he has been that way since birth your father may want to rely on a cane or fore arm crutch for a while. In my experience fore arm crutches are a lot more comfortable and feel more secure then a cane.
If you father has the determination he can and will walk again. however fitting this high can be tricky so he may decide to wear it for short periods or find it easier to get around in a wheel chair. It is an option and you won't know till you try.
Here is the company that makes all of my components. http://www.ottobock.com/
generally speaking, they can make prosthesis for most situations, but there has to be a support structure for the prosthetic limb to use. If it is just the leg, it is entirely possible they can make a usable prosthesis. In the event that amputation also goes into the pelvic structure, it would be more unlikely as there would be nothing there to support the body's weight. This question would best be answered by a doctor familiar with replacement limbs and the extent of the amputation. Best of luck and I hope your father recovers.