Prosthetic rehabilitation of a patient with finger amputation using silicone material.

Abstract

Finger and partial finger amputations are commonly due to traumatic injuries; digit loss may also be attributed to congenital malformations and disease. Finger prostheses are difficult to fabricate as they demand both aesthetic and function. When dealing with these types of prostheses, the only method of gaining successful retention is to sleeve the remnant stump with thin silicone. A 28-year-old man reported with a chief complaint of unaesthetic look due to amputated ring finger of left hand. In this case, the remnant stump was missing, the adjacent ring finger was splinted and an adhesive retained prosthesis instead of ring retained or glove-on prosthesis was planned. The retention was achieved by extending the prosthesis to palmar crease. This article describes the rehabilitation of a finger with prosthesis, which is simple to construct, aesthetic, retentive and easy to maintain. The prosthesis thus fabricated merged with the adjacent tissues providing desired aesthetics and psychological boost to the patient. Final prosthesis was found with adequate retention. The patient was satisfied with the aesthetic of the prosthesis. Because of the missing residual stump, functional limitations were also there. This clinical report describes a technological process of designing and manufacturing a silicone rubber prosthesis for a patient who has a finger loss caused due to trauma.