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National Institutes of Health
Artificial Limbs
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, resulting in 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, 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.
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Start Here
- Prosthetic Frequently Asked Questions for the New Amputee(Amputee Coalition of America)
The top row in the table of contents box contains the following groups:
Basics
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Learn More
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Multimedia & Cool Tools
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For group Basics
For group Learn More
For group Multimedia & Cool Tools
- No links available
The bottom row in the table of contents box contains the following groups:
Research
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Reference Shelf
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For You
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For group Research
For group Reference Shelf
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Overviews
- Limb Prosthetics(Merck & Co., Inc.)
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Latest News
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Paralyzed Individuals Use Thought-Controlled Robotic Arm to Reach and Grasp(05/16/2012, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders)
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Specific Conditions
- Amputation and Prosthetics(American Society for Surgery of the Hand)
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Foreshortened Prostheses (Stubbies)
(Amputee Coalition of America)
- Hand Transplant(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
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Prosthetic Feet(Amputee Coalition of America)
- Also available in Spanish
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Prosthetic Knee Systems(Amputee Coalition of America)
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Related Issues
- Assistive Devices and Mobility Aids during Travel(Transportation Security Administration)
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Cosmesis: The Art of Making Artificial Limbs Look Lifelike(Amputee Coalition of America)
- Prosthetic Care FAQs(American Board for Certification in Orthotics and Prosthetics)
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Prosthetic Socks: Simple, Low-Cost, Helpful Ways to Protect Your Skin(Amputee Coalition of America)
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Protect Your Prosthetic Investment(Amputee Coalition of America)
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When to Replace a Prosthesis(Amputee Coalition of America)
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Financial Issues
- Medicare's New Requirements for Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies(Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) - PDF
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Clinical Trials
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Amputation, Traumatic(National Institutes of Health)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Artificial Limbs(National Institutes of Health)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Amputation, Traumatic
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Research
- Brain-Controlled Prosthetics(Society for Neuroscience)
- Prosthetic Engineering(Dept. of Veterans Affairs)
- Prosthetics / Amputations(Dept. of Veterans Affairs) - PDF
- Prosthetics and Related Technology(Dept. of Veterans Affairs) - PDF
- VA Studies Advanced Prosthetic Arm(Dept. of Veterans Affairs)
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Journal Articles
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Advanced upper limb prosthetic devices: implications for upper limb prosthetic...
- Article: Functional outcome assessment of lower limb amputees and prosthetic users...
- Article: Effects of elevated vacuum on in-socket residual limb fluid volume:...
- Artificial Limbs -- see more articles
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Dictionaries/Glossaries
- Prosthetic Care Glossary(American Board for Certification in Orthotics and Prosthetics)
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Directories
- Locating a Certified Prosthetist(Amputee Coalition of America)
- Also available in Spanish
- Orthotic and Prosthetic (O&P) Services(Dept. of Veterans Affairs)
- Prosthetics(National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research)
- What to Expect from Your VA Prosthetics and Sensory Aids Service(Dept. of Veterans Affairs) - PDF
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Organizations
- Amputee Coalition of America
- Also available in Spanish
- Dept. of Veterans Affairs
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Children
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Limb Loss in Children: Prosthetic Issues(Amputee Coalition of America)
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Limb Loss in Children: Prosthetic Issues
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Seniors
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Senior Health: Older Adults and Newer Technology(Amputee Coalition of America)
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When Are Prostheses the Right Choice for Older Amputees?(Amputee Coalition of America)
- Also available in Spanish
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Senior Health: Older Adults and Newer Technology
