Limb Amputations and Prosthetics-Three-Dimensional Printing of Prosthetic Hands in Children

Three-Dimensional Printing of Prosthetic Hands in Children

Pdf Summary

This document discusses the use of three-dimensional printing to create prosthetic hands for children with hand reductions. These children have unique needs due to their continually changing size and changing needs as they grow. Traditional prosthetics for adults are becoming more technologically advanced but are not ideal for children due to increased weight, moving parts, and cost. Three-dimensional printing can be used to create low-cost, easily replaceable assistive hands for children. This technology allows for the fabrication of rugged, lightweight prosthetics that can be customized based on the child's specific needs. The document explains the medical applications of three-dimensional printing and the anatomy of a three-dimensional printer. It provides the technique for creating and fitting the prosthetic hands, including selecting a hand design, taking measurements, printing the components, assembling the hand, and fitting it to the child. The document also highlights the challenges and considerations involved with three-dimensional printing, such as the need for proper calibration and addressing issues like under extrusion and weak parts. Overall, three-dimensional printing offers a cost-effective and customizable solution for creating prosthetic hands for children with hand reductions.

Keywords

three-dimensional printing

prosthetic hands

children

hand reductions

technologically advanced prosthetics

low-cost

easily replaceable

assistive hands

rugged lightweight prosthetics

customization