Artificial Limbs

Summary

People can lose all or part of an arm or leg for a number of reasons. Common ones include:

• Circulation problems from atherosclerosis or diabetes. They may cause you to need an amputation.
• Traumatic injuries, including from traffic accidents and military combat
• Cancer
• Birth defects

If you are missing an arm or leg, an artificial limb can sometimes replace it. The device, which is called a prosthesis, can help you to perform daily activities such as walking, eating, or dressing. Some artificial limbs let you function nearly as well as before.

Specifics

• Amputation: Prosthetic Hand and Fingers American Society for Surgery of the Hand

Statistics and Research

• Brain-Machine Interfaces: Converting Thoughts into Action Society for Neuroscience
• Prosthetic Engineering Department of Veterans Affairs
• Prosthetics / Limb Loss Department of Veterans Affairs
• Prosthetics and Related Technology Department of Veterans Affairs

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Amputation, Traumatic National Institutes of Health
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Artificial Limbs National Institutes of Health

Find an Expert

• Department of Veterans Affairs Department of Veterans Affairs

NIH MedlinePlus Magazine

• Engineer and Athlete Rory Cooper, Ph.D., Draws from Personal Experience to Design New Technologies for People with Disabilities
• How a Prosthetic Ankle Improves Balance Control
• Paralympic Snowboarder Amy Purdy Isn’t Slowing Down
• Prosthetics Through the Ages

Start Here

• Limb Prosthetics Merck & Co., Inc.
• Prosthetic Frequently Asked Questions for the New Amputee Amputee Coalition of America

Older Adults

• Older Adults Can Thrive as Prosthesis Users Amputee Coalition of America

Journal Articles

• Artificial Limbs

Related Issues

• Rehabilitation Engineering: What is Rehabilitation Engineering? National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering
• The Wonderful World of Cosmesis Amputee Coalition of America
• When to Replace a Prosthesis Amputee Coalition of America