Amputation

An amputation is a surgical operation that involves the removal (ablation) of all or part of a limb. Amputations are often performed to avoid unavoidable complications, pain or even a fatal outcome.

There are many causes of amputation:

Diseases:

Arterial insufficiency of the lower limbs: the large and medium-sized arteries are narrowed or blocked. This means that not enough blood and oxygen reaches the extremity of the limb. The main reasons for this are diabetes, smoking and high blood pressure.
Certain infections, or cancer affecting the bone and soft tissue.

Accidents on the road, at work, in the home, etc.

Amputation is rarely an emergency except in cases of uncontrollable infection or following serious injury in an accident.

The term “congenital amputation” is used to describe the absence of all or part of a limb from birth, without surgical intervention. This is known as agenesis, i.e. the non-development of all or part of one or more limbs.

After amputation, recovery and healing of the stump is the priority before rehabilitation and fitting with a prosthesis can begin.

Reasons to choose PROTEOR

Several times a year, PROTEOR’s centers for orthopedics offer users the opportunity to try out a new sport or exercise activity during product taster days. Under the supervision of prosthetists, physiotherapists and in some cases sports or fitness trainers, users can explore sports or exercise activities options they might not have previously considered. Many users rediscover sensations not experienced for far too long.

These taster days are much appreciated by everyone involved, and are a great opportunity to share information and experiences and to meet people facing similar challenges.

Typhaine Solde ran for the first time after her amputation surgery during one of these taster days… She is now in a training program for the 2024 Paralympic Games.

Some examples: Easy Run blade days, Ski days using the Easy Ride knee (see the video below), Watersports days using the Easy Ride knee and feet from the H2O Collection.

PROTEOR is continously looking to improve, which is why it regularly seeks feedback from its users via satisfaction surveys to improve the services it offers.

Because its goal is to satisfy user requirements as well as it possibly can, PROTEOR is regularly in contact with a focus group of about fifty prosthesis users. When developing new prosthetic components and services, PROTEOR involves these users at various stages in the design process to find out what they think about the new ideas and to trial prototypes.

Orthopedics is a discipline that evolves constantly. Our prosthetists are continually kept up to date with training about new products and are certified and accredited to fit mecatronic components.

The combination of traditional techniques and the latest technologies enables them to offer individualized solutions.

The PROTEOR Group has set up a group of prosthesis experts, comprised of about ten prosthetists, with responsibility for optimizing good practices throughout the Group.

When contacted by their colleagues within the Group, these experts readily share their technical know-how. They also provide valuable support and mentoring for the Group’s younger prosthetists.

PROTEOR works closely with several centers of excellence in the field of orthopedics to design, test, analyze and validate innovative product concepts.

For example: work on covers for protheses, sockets (new materials, etc.).

Our equipment solutions

Below-knee prosthesis

Above-knee prosthesis

Cosmetic prosthesis

Myoelectric prosthesis

Mechanical prosthesis

Lower limb prostheses are designed to allow the amputee to walk and rediscover their independence.

The term below-knee prosthesis is used when the device is fitted to a trans-tibial (BK) amputee and an above-knee prosthesis is fitted to trans-femoral (AK) amputees.

The prostheses are custom made by assembling, in an extremely precise manner, all the various parts: liner, socket, knee, foot and cosmetic cover.

Upper-limb prostheses are designed to enhance an amputee’s physical appearance and/or functional performance.

There are a number of different types of upper-limb prosthesis:

Myoelectric prostheses are controlled by the user’s muscle contractions
Cosmetic prostheses are designed to be as esthetic as possible, but do not let the user actuate hand movements
Functional (or body-powered) prostheses let the user perform simple everyday actions such as grasping and rotating via a system of push-pull cables

The prostheses are custom made by assembling, in an extremely precise manner, all the various parts: socket, intermediate effectors (elbows) and terminal effectors or devices (tools and prosthetic hands).

These individualized medical devices are made to comply with a medical prescription and then adjusted and fitted to the user exclusively by a particular type of qualified and accredited professional: prosthetists.

These paramedical professionals work with specialist physicians, physiotherapists and occupational therapists to work out how the orthopedic equipment can best support the user’s goals and expectations before selecting and adapting the products optimally suited to the user’s health, physical condition, degree of amputation and personal and occupational environment.

The steps to get a prosthesis

Only a specialist doctor, physical and rehabilitation doctor (PRM), orthopaedic surgeon or neurosurgeon, can prescribe the first prosthesis.

Once the prescription has been obtained, you will need to make an appointment with one of our prosthetists.

This visit is essential in order to determine the best type of equipment for the patient.

During this meeting, it will be necessary to bring the medical elements likely to help the prosthetist in the design of the prosthesis (X-rays, surgical report, report of rehabilitation…).

The ortho-prosthetist, depending on the medical prescription, will propose different technological solutions to specifically meet the patient’s needs. To do this, he will rely on :

Medical history,
The clinical assessment,
Habits and life plan: professional, leisure and sporting activities, housing, daily activities, etc.
The current or previous equipment and any difficulties encountered previously.

The prosthetist will propose, according to all these data, various solutions adapted to the needs of the patient.

A measurement and moulding of the stump by plaster application or by CAD/CAM (Computer Aided Design) will be carried out.

One or more fittings will be necessary to perfectly adapt the prosthesis. The ortho-prosthesist will check the adaptation of the fitting to the residual limb and will verify the functional adequacy of the prosthesis and the good understanding of its use.

Every 6 months, it will be necessary to make an appointment to check the technical condition of the prosthesis and to check the condition of the accessories (sleeves, sheaths, cups, gloves, etc.).

In addition, we carry out the necessary repairs to your prosthesis as quickly as possible, as well as any revisions of electronic medical devices to ensure their correct use.
In case of morphological changes, it is necessary to consult your doctor who will issue a new medical prescription to proceed with the adaptation or change of the socket.

Questions and Answers

Find out the answers to some frequently asked questions.

FAQ

Dedicated social networks

We have created web pages that show how users experience life with a prosthesis, by looking at their everyday routines and activities:
PROTEOR Prostheses: Expertise and Testimonials