Prosthetic Rehabilitation of Amputated Thumb: A Simplified Approach

This case report presents a case of prosthetic rehabilitation of an amputated thumb. It emphasizes that prosthetic replacement is a better option for aesthetic and psychological improvement, particularly in cases where the victim is unwilling to undergo complicated surgical procedures for reconstruction of thumb or where functioning of thumb cannot be restored even by multiple surgeries. In the present case, a 20 years old female patient, with missing thumb of her right hand was rehabilitated aesthetically by a non-invasive and cost effective prosthetic procedure by using heat temperature vulcanizing silicone material. The prosthesis (the thumb) was attached using medical adhesives. On 3 months recall appointment, no complications were observed. The prosthesis was in good shape and required no further intervention. The prosthetic thumb lacks the sensation of a normal or reconstructed thumb, although it does not require the multiple procedures of surgical reconstruction and the accompanying loss of time for rehabilitation and healing.