Orthosis & Prosthesis


Definition (Prosthetics): The branch of medicine or surgery that deals with the production and application of artificial body parts.

Definition (Orthotics): The science that deals with the use of specialized mechanical devices to support or supplement weakened or abnormal joints or limbs.

Definition (Prosthesis): It is an artificial device that replaces a missing body part. Prostheses are typically used to replace parts lost by injury or missing from birth (congenital) or to supplement defective body parts.

Definition (Orthosis): It is a device applied to the body to control or enhance movement or to prevent movement or deformity.

Functional classification:

Ø  Supportive: It stabilizes the joints and supports the bosy in its anatomical position. e.g. calipers, gaiters.
Ø  Functional: It stabilizes the joint and also makes up for a lost function, e.g. foot drop splint in common peroneal nerve palsy or dynamic cock-up splints in wrist drop.
Ø  Corrective to correct deformities, e.g. club foot boot in congenital talipes equino varus.
Ø  Protective: To protect a part of the body during its healing. E.g. rigid four post collar for fracture cervical vertebrae.
Ø   Prevent substitution of function: In a full length caliper, substitution of hip flexors by abductors or adductors of hip and other similar trick movements are prevented.
Ø  Orthoses: Which strength certain groups of muscles. E.g. Tenodesis splint.
Ø  Relief of pain, e.g. Lumbrosacral corset supports the lower back, preventing painful movement.
Ø   Prevent weight bearing: A weight relieving orthosis, prescribed for conditions like fracture calcaneum will take weight away from the injured sites into proximal site like the patellar tendon bearing area.

Regional classification: They are classified according to the anatomical area fitted with the orthosis:

1.      Cervical orthosis.
2.      Head cervical orthosis (HCO)
3.      Head cervical-Thoracic orthosis (HCTO)
4.      Sacral orthosis.
5.      Lumbo-sacral orthosis (LSO)
6.      Thoraco lumbo sacral orthosis (TLSO)
7.      Upper Extremity orthosis:
Ø  Shoulder and Arm orthosis.
Ø  Elbow orthosis.
Ø  Wrist orthosis.
Ø  Hand orthosis.
8.      Lower extremity orthosis:
Ø  Foot orthosis (FO).
Ø  Ankle foot orthosis (AFO)
Ø  Knee Ankle Foot orthoses (KAFO)
Ø  Hip-Knee-Ankle-Foot orthoses (HKAFO)

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