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Summary
Amputating a dysfunctional hand may be better than keeping it, especially when a prosthesis offers superior function and comfort. Patient and surgeon must jointly decide, considering various factors, with most patients reporting satisfaction with amputation and prosthesis use.
Area of Science:
- Hand surgery
- Prosthetics
- Reconstructive surgery
Background:
- A severely impaired hand can negatively impact a patient's quality of life.
- Prosthetic technology offers potential functional and aesthetic improvements over a non-functional hand.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate patient selection and outcomes for elective hand amputation.
- To identify factors influencing the decision for hand amputation.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of fifteen patients who underwent elective hand amputation.
- Assessment of factors contributing to the decision-making process.
- Evaluation of prosthesis fitting and patient satisfaction post-amputation.
Main Results:
- Fifteen patients elected hand amputation due to factors including pain, appearance, and function.
- Eleven patients received a prosthesis during surgery, and three within three weeks.
- All patients were satisfied with their decision, and 12 successfully used their prosthesis.
Conclusions:
- Elective hand amputation can be a viable option for severely impaired hands when function, comfort, and appearance are suboptimal compared to prostheses.
- A conjoint decision-making process between surgeon and patient, considering multiple factors, is crucial.
- Successful outcomes and high patient satisfaction are achievable with timely prosthesis fitting.