We specialise in custom-fabricated silicone upper limb prosthesis. A prosthesis is an artificial replacement of an absent body part. Patients with amputated hands will benefit from fitting prostheses. A prosthesis enhances hand function by restoring lost length and span of the amputated hand to allow opposition with (i.e.work against) the remaining parts. A prosthesis also augments the functional outcome of surgical reconstruction.
All prostheses fitted at our Prosthetic Hand Clinic are custom-moulded from a medical-grade silicone rubber to ensure a biocompatible, comfortable and secure fit. The layering technique of moulding and colourmatching used to produce the prosthesis allows a life-like appearance and close colourmatch to the patient’s skin tone to be achieved
The range of prostheses that we provide are:
Custom-fabricated cap-type / thimble prosthesis for distal finger amputations .
Custom-fabricated finger prosthesis for proximal finger amputations.
Custom-fabricated hand prosthesis for partial and total hand amputations.
Custom-fabricated below-elbow prosthesis.
Suitable candidates for fitting hand and finger prosthesis
All prospective patients attend a pre-fitting clinic aimed at assessing their suitability for fitting with regard to the physical conditions of the stump as well as the patient's own expectations.
Candidates for finger prostheses should have:
Well-healed stump (s) free from edema
Residual stump length (s) of more than 1.5 cm from the web spaces.
Well-aligned stump which is not overly bulbous or tapered distally.
Partial hand amputations are more complex and require evaluation on a case-by-case basis due to the variability in the form of the residual stumps that may be presented. Generally, the residual hand/ stump must be well-healed, pain-free and not be overly bulky. Patients may be advised to wait for the swelling in the stump to subside before proceeding with fitting the prosthesis.
Overseas patients are advised to forward digital close-up /images of their hand (right and left hand taken together) to enable us to assess if a prosthesis can be fitted prior to making the trip. Alternatively, hard copies may be mailed to us at the contact address below. Where a surgical revision is indicated to revise the stump to fit a prosthesis, it should preferably be done at home where the clinical expertise is available.
It is important that all prospective patients have realistic expectations as to the purpose and outcome of fitting a prosthesis. The primary aim of fitting custom-moulded silicone prosthesis is to restore loss length and appearance to the hand to render the defect less noticeable, and not to return the injured hand to the original level of cosmesis and function.
Number or working days needed to complete a prosthesis
First-time patients must attend the prosthetic clinic in person. This is to allow us to achieve a good colour match and optimum prosthetic fit. Subsequent replacements may be mail-ordered without the patient having to come in person.
It takes 5 full working days to complete fitting with finger prostheses. Therefore, a week-long stay is advised for all finger cases. For partial and full hand cases, a longer stay of 8-10 days, depending on the complexity, is required.
Patients who need assistance on travel and accommodation may contact our International Patient Liaison Centre at the e-mail: iplc@nuh.com.sg
Contact Information
For appointment and further enquiries, please contact:
Mr Michael EL Leow more details
Chief Prosthetist
Dept of Hand & Reconstructive Microsurgery
National University Hospital
5 Lower Kent Ridge Road
Singapore 119074
Tel: (65) 6772-4596
Fax: (65) 6773-2558
Email: dosv5@nus.edu.sg
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