3-S prosthesis: a preliminary report

We report a new prosthetic suspension system ideally suited for active young amputees. The silicone suction socket (3-S) utilizes a silicone sleeve that intimately fits the residual limb, providing a suction-type suspension for both upper and lower extremities. Seven juvenile amputees were evaluated. Six were successful and one was deemed a failure. Details of the design concepts, fabrication, and method of donning the prosthesis are described. We believe that the 3-S design is a significant improvement over conventional prosthetic suspension, offering important advantages to the active pediatric amputee.