Silicone Locking-Liner Socket with a Lightweight Aesthetic Prosthesis for Short Congenital Forearm Stumps: A Report of Two Patients.

Abstract

Conventional prosthetic sockets can be uncomfortable and restrictive to elbow flexion when fitted on short forearm stumps due to their high trimline. We report improved patient experience after switching to a locking silicone-liner socket in conjunction with a lightweight aesthetic prosthesis in two congenital transradial amputees with short stumps who were previously dissatisfied with their conventional prosthesis. To reduce weight, the forearm section of the prosthesis was constructed using a lightweight design. Seven of eight attributes, namely aesthetics, comfort, suspension, ease of donning/doffing, weight, range of motion, skin issues and overall satisfaction, were rated by both patients as having improved versus their conventional prosthesis, with no change reported regarding issues of the skin. Our experience suggests that transradial amputees with short stumps who had problems with conventional fittings due to socket impingement and prosthesis weight may benefit from an approach combining a locking-pin liner suspension with a lightweight prosthesis. Level of Evidence: Level V (Therapeutic).