Valvular Heart Disease
P. Chopra, R. Ray, A. Saxena in Illustrated Textbook of Cardiovascular Pathology, 2013
Mechanical prostheses Several types of mechanical prostheses have been designed and marketed. Essentially, these are comprised of a metal or pyro-phytic carbon-coated graphite frame, silicon ball or tilting disc, and teflon sewing ring. The prototype of the ball and cage mechanical prostheses is the Starr-Edwards valve and that of the tilting disc group is the Bjork-Shiley valve and hinged bileaflet prostheses is the St. Jude prosthetic valve. Prosthetic valves have potentials for various complications. Patients with this device have to be maintained on life-long anticoagulation and therefore they suffer an increased risk of hemolysis. The incidence of this has lessened considerably due to better designing. Dehiscence of sutures may result in paravalvular leak. Ring and surface of the valve can be covered by overgrowth of fibrous tissue (pannus formation) This overgrowth may impede effective functioning or the mechanical prostheses. Infective endocarditis of mechanical prosthesis is of considerable concern. Sutures give way in most cases of infective endocarditis resulting in paravalvular leak and regurgitation of valve. The vegetations may grow and extend to cover/block the valve. Mortality in such instances is high. Thromboembolism is another consequence. Other complications include fracture of the ball within the cage fragments of which may embolise.
Upper and Lower Limb Robotic Prostheses
Pedro Encarnação, Albert M. Cook in Robotic Assistive Technologies, 2017
Form and function are often the first aspects that spring to mind when discussing a prosthetic device. Form includes how the different parts of the device are configured, how they relate to each other, the material used in the construction of the prosthesis, and the cosmetic appearance of these parts (such as color and texture). For example, a prosthesis could be formed from a fiberglass or plastic base that is painted to match the color of the user’s skin, with metal parts concealed under cosmetic rubber liners to simulate the look of regular human tissue. Alternately, a device might be fabricated from black carbon fiber with visible motors and some exposed metal parts or highlighted technology. Some prostheses are painted with custom artwork. Others are sculpted to exactly match the shape and appearance of a user’s nonamputated limb. While form may vary greatly, it is dictated in a large part by the functional and social needs of the user.
Nutrition for Amputees
Elizabeth Broad in Sports Nutrition for Paralympic Athletes, 2019
Research and new developments of prostheses have advanced while technology continues to aim at improving the options for amputees. Throughout 2011/2012, there was substantial international attention regarding whether artificial legs can prove advantageous among athletes with amputations, and whether this puts able-bodied athletes at a disadvantage if competing in the same race. Since 2012, the debate over whether prosthetic legs provide a competitive edge over able-bodied athletes has slowed. It is becoming more accepted that bilateral amputees with running legs are at no additional advantage when competing against able-bodied runners. Unilateral amputees are likely disadvantaged (at least over distances longer than 100 m), as they do not have the same running gait or efficiency as bilateral amputees or able-bodied runners due to compensatory patterns of running biomechanics using one prosthetic. Additionally, there are now updated processes during track and field classification where a maximum height limit is set to avoid issues of disproportionality in the length of prosthetic limbs leading to a distinct performance advantage (Figure 8.1).
Advances in additive manufacturing processes and their use for the fabrication of lower limb prosthetic devices
Published in Expert Review of Medical Devices, 2023
Shaurya Bhatt, Deepak Joshi, Pawan Kumar Rakesh, Anoop Kant Godiyal
Prosthetic devices are used to physically support a person with a disability, caused due to loss of a limb or a certain portion of limb or a body part due to disease or trauma. Prosthetic devices can replace the missing part in the body of a person and help to regain the working capabilities of the lost part. Prostheses can be of many types, such a foot prosthesis, hand prostheses, and many more. The part of the limb that is left after loss is known as residual limb. A prosthesis socket acts as inter-connection between the prosthesis and residual limb, and helps to transfer load and motion from the residual limb to the prosthesis. The naming of prostheses is carried out based on joint and limb involved. Four common nomenclatures of prostheses are Above Elbow (AE), Below Elbow (BE), Above Knee (AK), and Below Knee (BK). Prostheses can also be named based on the bone involved, like transradial prosthesis, transhumeral prosthesis, transfemoral prosthesis, and transtibial prosthesis, as were used in various studies [1–4]. It is estimated that 25.5 million people in the world need prosthetic/orthotic devices [5]. In India, 2.21% of total population is disabled, in which 20% has disability related to movement [6].
Advances in surgical strategies for prolapse
Published in Climacteric, 2019
A. Giannini, M. Caretto, E. Russo, P. Mannella, T. Simoncini
Reconstruction of a failed pelvic floor can be obtained through re-creation of an anatomical support that resembles as much as possible the original. However, there is no indication for repairing an asymptomatic POP as an isolated procedure where surgical correction is of uncertain benefit and adds perioperative and postoperative risks. The surgical repair techniques are classified as ‘native tissue repair’ when only pelvic organ support tissues are used and as ‘augmented repair’ when some other material (prosthesis or graft) is used to reinforce the defective support system. Prostheses are classified as meshes, implants, and tapes (slings). Grafts are classified as autologous grafts, allografts, and xenografts. Today, synthetic polypropylene mesh is the most commonly used reconstructive material in surgical augmented repair of POP17.
Being “just normal”: a grounded theory of prosthesis use
Published in Disability and Rehabilitation, 2018
Philip Jefferies, Pamela Gallagher, Mark Philbin
The number of people living with limb absence is substantial and growing. In the USA alone, approximately 1 in 190 people have had a limb amputated, and it is estimated that the total number of persons with limb loss will increase from 2 to 3.6 million by 2050 [1]. This forecasted growth is linked to an ageing population and increases in the incidence of diabetes mellitus and dysvascularity. In addition to the loss of a limb, limb absence may be due to the absence of a limb at birth, and in the USA, 1500–4500 people are born with congenital limb difference every year [2]. For individuals with limb loss, the prescription of a prosthesis is the most common form of intervention in their rehabilitation, and many individuals with congenital limb absence will also use prostheses to aid them in their daily living. Currently, there are no figures for quantifying global or national prosthesis use, but in the UK, nearly 6000 individuals with limb absence were referred to prosthetic-fitting centres during 2010–2011 [3].
Related Knowledge Centers
- Amputation
- Birth Defect
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- Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
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- Craniofacial Prosthesis
- Ocular Prosthesis
- Dentures
- Palatal Obturator