When we have all our body parts present and working fine, rarely do we think about how it would be if it weren’t so. People may be born with anomalies or can lose some body parts to accidents or diseases. Thanks to the advances in medical technology, prosthetics or the art of making various artificial body parts make it possible for people to live a better life. Prosthesis refers to the artificial body parts used by people, like hands, legs, eyes, etc. Even the dentures we use are a kind of prosthetics, one may say. The prime utility of prosthetics devices is providing people with a better quality of life by making them mobile and independent. Of course, there are some pros and cons, and we look at them here.
Pros
- Many people opt for a prosthesis to look normal and not out of place. It also gives them a boost of self-esteem.
- For amputees, it can help them perform everyday tasks without having to rely on others. For example, artificial legs can help people walk almost normally. They no longer would need a crutch, walking stick, or wheelchair.
- It helps people conserve their energy to use it productively, as otherwise, they have to put in more effort to go around and do their work.
- It extends people’s lifespan, as they can carry on with their everyday activities, and it gives a positive mindset.
- People with prosthesis limbs even run marathons and participate in various tournaments.
Cons
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- The biggest con is the high cost, especially the customised ones. Some people who badly need it cannot afford it. However, this is slowly changing in India with many innovations in low-cost and affordable prostheses.
- The other biggest con about prosthesis is the skin irritation at the site where the artificial limb is fitted. Of course, you will get medical help to deal with the issues. But it’s unavoidable also.
- Also, people have to undergo physiotherapy for some time with the prosthesis to get used to it, especially for the latest ones that also help make movements with the artificial limbs. This process can be time-consuming, like re-learning to use a limb. Sometimes, there could be some mild adjustments that people have to get used to due to some fitting issues.
Types of prosthetics
Predominantly, there are four types of prostheses available for the limbs. These are customisable, though the process is slightly longer for the same.
- A transradial prosthesis replaces the arm below the elbow. These now have options of being cable operated or myoelectric. They use muscular signals to sense when the replaced hand needs to open or close.
- A transhumeral prosthesis replaces the arm above the elbow. Though there are options with movements as above, the range is limited and challenging.
- The transtibial prosthesis replaces the leg below the knee. People regain normal movement more easily with this prosthesis as the retained knee joint helps the movement.
- The transfemoral prosthesis replaces the leg above the knee. It is tough to regain normal function in such a prosthesis due to the complexities of the missing knee.
The materials used to create prosthetic limbs are acrylic resin, silicone, carbon fibre, aluminium, titanium, and thermoplastics. These are also made with a skin-like covering if people prefer the prosthesis to look like our normal limbs.
For the eye, the prosthetic is used for appearance and not for vision. People prefer an artificial eye to use a dark patch on the eye. It is made of hard acrylic plastic and is called a glassy eye. An ocular implant surgery gets done, after which you can fit the prosthesis into the eye socket.
The dental prosthesis comes as crowns, implants, bridges, dentures, and veneers. Depending on your need, the dentist will suggest you opt for the right one. Dentists fix a crown after a root canal surgery, implants replace a missing tooth, and bridges fill gaps of missing teeth. Dentures are false teeth that help us eat normally. The materials used for these are metal and porcelain. Veneers help improve the tooth’s appearance. The material used is porcelain or a resin composite.
