Description
Silicone hand and finger prostheses are individually crafted using medical grade silicone. The finished product is hand painted to match the skin color and pigmentation. Some products can include freckles, veins, and even hair. They are sculpted, sized and shaped to match the opposite limb so are optically difficult to detect.
Silicone restorations are passive and have no moving parts. In some types, armatures (wires) within the silicon allow the fingers to be prepositioned in order to assist in the grasping of objects.
The most commonly used suspension systems for Silicone restorations are suction and liquid adhesives. The simple suction system makes application and removal very easy.
Advantages
- Comfortable.
- Aesthetically pleasing.
- Difficult to detect.
- Minimal weight.
- Adjustable armatures provide manual finger positioning.
- Dermatologically neutral.
- Durable.
- Improves dexterity and opposition grasp.
Disadvantages
- Expensive.
- Passive (no moving parts).
- Bespoke fabrication can lead to delays.
- Prone to discoloration.
- Can be affected by things like heat, ink and chemicals.
Common Components
Otto Bock
Touch Bionics
APC Prosthetics
Real Life Prosthetics
Geauga Rehabilitation Engineering
Steeper