[Arm and hand prosthesis--today and in the future (author's transl)]

The hand must be taken in a required working position (necessary for eating, drinking, dressing and writing) in order it can touch and grasp. For that purpose a combined motion of all arm-joints is necessary. Hand-surgical procedures are of little value when the hand cannot be taken in such a working position. The problem of the upper arm prosthesis is the driving of the elbow because both the Hood-arm and the myoelectrically driven elbow joint bring no satisfactory functional results. The Tobelbader Hand is a self-powered prosthesis for patients who have a wrist stump. By means of this Tobelbader Hand the prehension can be dosed muscularly. The substitute of the amputated wrist by implantation of an endoprosthesis is discussed theoretically. For the first time to an amputee (with upper arm amputation on both sides) an endoprosthesis was implanted into the stump of the upper arm in order to drive the prosthetic elbow. By means of this artificial, however movable elbow joint the electrical artificial hand can be reliable taken into any wanted position for working.