The assembly of the prosthesis from individual small modules and flexible size adjustment allow us to produce traction prostheses for children’s legs for patients from the age of one – right from the age at which children on average start walking. The child can start taking the first steps while using the prosthesis, which allows him or her to develop a normal gait and walking and running skills at the age at which this occurs naturally.
Therefore, parents should contact prosthetists as early as possible.
At the first stage, prosthetic technicians make a trial residual limb socket. It is made of hypoallergenic material based on an individual mold. This stage is very important, because the ease of use of the prosthesis depends on how well the socket fits the residual limb. Using a trial socket will allow you to identify all the features that went unnoticed during the doctor’s examination within weeks and take them into account when making a permanent socket for the prosthesis.
Of course, as the child grows, the sleeve will have to be changed, on average, it is replaced once every six months. The prosthesis itself, consisting of modules, can be adjusted to a certain height of the child up to a certain point, but this should be done by a specialist who will take into account not only the height but also the proportions so that the child develops the correct gait. Modern prosthetics allows you to make a full-fledged replacement of legs for everyday wear, sports, and swimming. It is also important that with a prosthesis, a child will not feel limited compared to other children and will not experience psychological pressure – on the contrary, traction prostheses for children even allow them to play football and other active games. Such a modular prosthesis can become an intermediate stage before the installation of a bionic leg at an older age, when annual prosthesis replacement is no longer required.
The modular prosthesis is made of durable and lightweight aluminum alloys and polymeric materials. The hinges, which play the role of joints, are high-tech devices that provide natural movements and body positions, as well as safety during movement.
It will take several months of rehabilitation and training with the participation of a doctor to learn how to use it. If a child learns to walk with a prosthesis right away, rehabilitation is easier and faster.
Another feature of children’s prostheses is their design. Usually, young patients want their prosthesis to be decorated with images of fairy tale and cartoon characters, and manufacturers meet them halfway. Such an unusual design makes it even easier for both the child and his or her environment to get used to the prosthesis.
