Different Types of Limb Loss: Before & After Surgery

Before a patient can get fit with their multi-articulating myoelectric hand, it’s vital that their prosthetist conducts a thorough evaluation and understands the cause of amputation or limb loss. This information helps prosthetists understand what a patient’s needs are so they can determine which prosthetic hand is the best fit for them. 

With this in mind, we’ll discuss the two primary types of upper limb loss seen in prosthesis users, as well as what patients should expect before and after amputation surgery. 

Limb loss can be a devastating adjustment for patients, especially depending on how the limb was lost. Limb loss most often occurs in one of two ways, either congenital limb loss or amputation. Both types of limb loss come with their own implications, making every patient’s needs unique.