ABSTRACT
UNDERSTANDING THE PROBLEM n Disability: Degree of disability affected by concomitant injury (blindness, lower extremity
amputation), level of amputation, ability to use prosthetic, and amount of home/social support n Etiologic factors: Some injuries are associated with poorer quality of the remaining soft tissue
and functional structures • Ballistic • High-voltage burn • Avulsion injury • Sepsis
n Level of amputation • Transmetacarpal: Amputees are able to use their wrists to perform many activities of daily
living. Limited functional prosthetic options
• Radiocarpal: Length preserved, but very little function without a prosthetic and difficult to fit a prosthetic at this level
• Midforearm: Many options for prosthetic • Proximal forearm: Proximal to the myotendinous junction, which will affect transplantation Limited prosthetic options
• Transhumeral: Successful prosthetic use is dependent on mobile shoulder.1
