Prosthetic Limbs

New Patient Appointment or 214-645-8300

At UT Southwestern Medical Center, our highly skilled team provides comprehensive care to people with limb loss, including state-of-the-art prostheses (artificial limbs) that are expertly designed and fitted to meet each patient’s needs.

Our physicians, surgeons, prosthetists, rehabilitation specialists, and psychologists combine their experience and expertise to fit patients with the prosthetic device that offers the best function and aesthetic for their lifestyle.

Our goal is to help patients recover their sense of well-being and enjoy more independence.

Personalized Plans for Empowering Results

For people missing a limb due to a birth defect or amputation, a prosthesis can help with daily activities such as walking, eating, or dressing.

Advancements in the development of prostheses, such as osseointegration and the use of ultralight materials, have enabled people with limb loss to lead full and versatile lives. These artificial limbs allow them to function almost as if they have a natural limb.

UT Southwestern’s interdisciplinary team of clinicians is devoted to bringing patients the latest advances in technology and rehabilitation techniques. We are the only hospital in North Texas that offers osseointegration for prosthetic limbs.

We take a personal and compassionate approach to our patients’ care, whether the goal is to drive a car, run a marathon, play with their kids, or cook a holiday meal.

Types of Prosthetic Limbs

There are several different types of artificial limbs. At UT Southwestern, patients work with our physicians to select the prosthesis that’s best suited for them.

The device that’s best for a patient will depend on:

Type of limb loss or amputation
Muscle strength
General state of health
Tasks they want to perform with their prosthetic limb

Prosthetic limbs can last for many years before needing to be replaced. The lifespan of a prosthesis will depend on how often it’s worn, changes in the body, and activity level.

Prosthetic limbs are not a good fit for everyone. People who have significant health complications might not be good candidates because a prosthetic limb requires significant:

Physical therapy and rehabilitation exercises
Energy to adjust to life with a prosthetic limb
Psychological adjustment to having a prosthetic limb

Our specialists partner with patients to select the approach that is the best fit for their current needs, health status, and lifestyle goals.

Osseointegration Limb Replacement

Osseointegration limb replacement is a reconstruction surgery that may benefit people who have not tolerated or do not want to use a traditional prosthetic socket.

In this process, a custom-made artificial implant is permanently, surgically anchored and integrated into bone, which then grows into the implant. This surgery can be done in the:

Femur (thigh)
Tibia (shin)
Humerus (upper arm)

Osseointegration can help alleviate many of the common problems associated with limb prostheses, including:

Pinching
Sweating
Need for frequent refitting
Poor control of the prosthesis
Nerve pain
Skin irritation, sores, and ulcers

The direct skeletal connection between the prosthesis and the patient’s own natural bone provides stability and strength. Compared to traditional prosthetic limbs, osseointegration can result in:

Better mobility and control of the prosthetic limb
Improved sense of stability and strength
Reduced nerve pain
More intimate, emotional connection to the prosthetic limb

What to Expect

Receiving and adjusting to wearing a prosthetic limb takes time and patience. At UT Southwestern, patients work with a variety of skilled clinicians who provide expert care at every step along this journey.

If a patient receives a prosthesis following an amputation, the process can begin four to six weeks after amputation surgery if the wound is fully healed and the swelling has reduced.

Everyone’s experience is unique, but in general, the process involves:

Initial evaluation: We will perform a comprehensive evaluation to assess everyday function, including:

Wounds
Pain management needs
Mental health
Other factors that are unique to the patient

Our clinicians will also answer any questions and address the concerns patients might have about living with a prosthetic limb.

Selecting the prosthesis: From there, we will develop a tailored treatment plan based on the patient’s needs. Our physicians will collaborate with device specialists to identify a prosthesis that fits the patient’s body best and suits the activity levels of their work, hobbies, and recreational interests, as well as overall health goals.

Finding the right device might include making a cast of the patient’s residual limb and using the cast to create a temporary socket to connect the residual limb to the prosthetic limb.

Preparation: Before patients receive a prosthesis, we make sure they understand what to expect in terms of pain management, recovery, and function.

We also may recommend:

Skin desensitization techniques to make the skin that will be in contact with the prosthesis less sensitive
Physical therapy to strengthen muscles, improve general energy levels, and prepare the patient for the demands of an artificial limb
Consultation with our rehabilitation psychologists to help the patient prepare mentally and emotionally for changes in lifestyle

Rehabilitation: After patients receive a prosthesis, our team works closely with them to help ease pain and improve function.

Patients will learn hygienic methods to care for the prosthesis and protect the skin on the residual limb from irritation and damage.

Physical and occupational therapy will help patients:

Transition to wearing a prosthetic with confidence and comfort
Learn how to use the prosthesis for self-care, work, and leisure
Maintain and increase strength, flexibility, coordination, and endurance
Practice independent living skills
Avoid complications

During the first year after an amputation and placement of a prosthetic limb, a patient’s body will undergo many changes. Frequent follow-up visits are normal to assess the replacement limb for fit and function, evaluate any residual limb pain and phantom pain, and continuously review pain management plans.

Support Services for Prosthetic Limb

Our team of specialists at the UT Southwestern Prosthetics and Orthotics Clinic is committed to supporting patients long after the prosthesis is fitted and will help with future repairs, replacements, and upgrades.

Patients have routine visits with their prosthetist, who can determine when parts of the prosthetic device wear out and need to be replaced. We’ll make sure patients develop and maintain the confidence they need to live their life to the fullest with the prosthesis.

We believe that family members play an integral role in rehabilitation, and our specialists work diligently to provide families with the information needed to promote recovery. In addition, our medical staff offers a wide variety of services to families, such as psychological counseling, support groups, and educational programs that address questions about amputation and prostheses.