|  | Surgeries Operations | Surgeries

Short-Term & Long-Term Effects of a Prosthetic Leg

A prosthesis is an artificial limb that replaces a missing limb, whether one has lot it due to deformity, injury or a congenital defect. Today's prostheses have far surpassed the once bulky and unwieldy former prostheses. Physicians can now replace most absent or malformed body parts with highly functional, technologically advanced prostheses thanks to the great strides in modern medicine. Still, today's prostheses come with several short- and long-term effects.

  1. Short Term: Delay Effect

    • Modern prosthetic medicine has placed patients in good hands.

      Patients who have recently received their prosthetic devices may find that their response time with their prosthetic side and sounds side both experience a delay in reaction time. According to a 2009 study performed by the Sint Maartenskliniek Research Development & Education Group, this delay effect may occur due to a reorganization of the central nervous system to allot for synchronized movement within both extremities.

    Short Term: Dermatitis

    • Prosthetics may cause skin irritation.

      A short-term---yet reoccurring problem---among those using prosthetic legs is the appearance of skin disorders where the amputated site rests on the prosthetic. The most frequently reported disorders, known as allergic contact dermatitis (ACD), include infections, malignancies and ulcerations. ACD represents a third of all dermatoses reported in patients wearing prosthetic devices. According to the "American Journal of Clinical Dermatology," these dermatological defects may typically result from friction, pressure and occlusion, which may very well lead to lesions.

    Long Term: Tissue Proliferation

    • Modern medicine is still working to perfect prosthetic technology.

      A long-term consequence of lower body prostheses is the result of tissue proliferation, or more simply, a gross buildup of extraneous tissue in the amputation site, which can lead to the loss of nerve sensation in the "stump" location leading to inevitable loss of feeling. This buildup of tissue may further exacerbate former problems with skin disorders, or may lead to the emergence of new dermatological difficulties.

    Long Term: Lumbar Disfiguration

    • Prosthetic legs can provide accessibility to otherwise difficult-to-reach locations.

      The long-term effect on the lower lumbar region may occur in patients wearing the limb for 10 years or more. The disfiguration can lead to a myriad of pain issues and an overly appreciated abnormal gait. This disfiguration can stem from numerous factors, including inappropriate prosthetic length, improper wearing of the device and poor maintenance of the prosthetic unit, all of which can lead to the erosion of heel material, creating a leg-length inequality.

Surgeries - Related Articles