Comprehensive Rehabilitation of Partially Amputated Index Finger with Silicone Prosthesis: A Case Report with 3 years of Follow Up

Abstract

The loss of all or part of a finger following traumatic amputation may have a negative impact on physical and psychological well-being. An esthetic prosthesis can offer psychological, functional, and rehabilitative advantages. One of the major problems associated with somato-prosthetic replacement of partially amputated finger is inadequate retention of the prosthesis. This may stem from the weight of the prosthesis, inadequate tissue support, and/or the particular area of the finger to be replaced. A number of means have been employed to enhance retention. Among the more common are adhesives, adhesive tape, magnets and implants. The purpose of this article is to describe a technique which eliminates the need for adhesive materials and utilizes copper wire to fabricate a finger ring as a primary means of retention. This technique can be utilized whenever the prosthesis encompasses more than 180° of the affected area. This clinical report presents a case of rehabilitation of a partially amputated index finger defect and describes a method of retention for the same with a copper ring.