From AMP-L Listserve:

"One fine morning Gord Langdon asked:"

"I was wondering if anyone has posted a glossary of prosthetic industry terms and/or a compilation of references (e.g. URLs)? In my week of lurking on the list, I have seen many brand names and products that I have never heard of before." 

Moderator of AMP-L, Wayne Renardson replies:

"We have some new subscribers to AMP-L who might find this helpful...from the past...

In light of the emergence of almost official AMP-L lexicographers, it is time to revisit the FAQ. Kindly know that definitions are often ambiguous and if you disagree with a definition, think you can improve upon it, or make more it concise, please let me know privately. Spelling corrections are most welcome. Clear, concise definitions in the amputee lexicon are of benefit to us all."

AMP-L FAQ on Definitions:

Language evolves over time, as will this FAQ. The following will help serve as a foundation for those unacquainted with the terminology.

AE: above elbow amputation

AK: above knee

Adherent Scar Tissue: Scar tissue formed in the healing process which sticks to underlying tissue such as muscle or fascia or bone.

ACA - Amputee coalition of America

ADA - Americans with Disabilities Act

BE - Below Elbow

VSBE: very short below elbow

Symes - amputation at the ankle or through the foot

DAK - Double AK

Bilateral: both sides---legs or arms.

BK: below knee

Congenital: a birth anomaly such as a missing or different limb

Cosmesis: an odd term used to describe the outer, aesthetic covering of a prosthesis. Refers to the appearance of the prosthesis, whether a "naturalistic" treatment is attempted.

Disarticulation: an amputation through a joint: commonly the hip, shoulder, knee, ankle, elbow, or wrist.

Dorsiflexion: pointing the toe/foot upward, toward the body

Endoskeletal Prosthesis: one built more like a human skeleton with support and components on the inside and a cosmetic cover on the outside.

Exoskeletal Prosthesis: a prosthesis that is hollow on the inside with a hard outer surface to bear weight built more like a human leg or arm with support components on the inside and a cosmetic cover on the outside.

Donning and Doffing: putting on and taking off a prosthesis.

HP: Hemi-pelvectomy: an amputation where approximately half of the pelvis is removed

HD: Hip Disarticulate - Entire leg removed

Ischial Tuberosity: the large sitting bone

Lateral: to the side, away from the mid-line of the body

Medial: toward the mid-line of the body

Myoelectrics: literally muscle electronics. Technology used in prosthetic for upper-extremity amputees; used in prosthetic hands and elbows to control the prosthesis via muscle contraction using electrical signals from the muscles to the prosthesis.

Myoplasty (muscles anchored to opposing muscles)

Myodesis -referring to muscles anchored by sutures through the bone

Neuroma: the end of a nerve left after amputation. The nerve will continue to grow in a circular pattern and can be troublesome, especially when trapped in scar tissue. A small mass or ball formed as nerve fibers continue to grow after being severed in the amputation.

Orthotics :the profession of providing devices to support and straighten the body.

Orthosis :the singular for a supportive device. Orthoses is plural.

Orthotic is mostly used as an adjective. However it can also be used as a noun. The usage of the noun form has historically been limited to arch supports and was coined by the podiatric field---re: a foot orthotic.

Partial Foot: an amputation on the front part of the foot

Plantarflexion: pointing the toe or foot down, toward the sole

Preparatory Prosthesis: stage between temporary and permanent prosthesis, using transparent diagnostic test socket and special fitting techniques to accurately fit the prosthesis so problems can be eliminated before it is cloned for the permanent prosthesis.

Prosthesis: An artificial part of the body. In the case of amputees, usually an arm or a leg.

Prosthetics: the systematic pursuit of providing cosmetic and /or functional restoration of missing human parts.

Prosthetist: a person involved in the science and art of prosthetics; one who designs and fits

Posterior: the back side of the body or part in question---ie: Posterior knee or patellar region.

PTB: Patellar Tendon Bearing BK Prosthesis. The Condyles are the proximal (near) ends of the tibia and fibula. My socket is a PTB with additional weight on the condyles. This gives 3 major points of contact, the patellar tendon, lateral condyle (fibula) and medial condyle (tibia).

Early Prosthetic Fitting: A procedure in which a preparatory prosthesis is provided for the amputee immediately after removal of the sutures.

Modular Prosthesis: An artificial limb assembled from components, usually of the endoskeletal type where the supporting member, or pylon, is covered with a soft foam or other light material shaped and finished to resemble the natural limb.

Definitive, or "Permanent" Prosthesis: A replacement for a missing limb or part of a limb which meets accepted standards for comfort, fit, alignment, function, appearance, and durability. Some amputees think this result is as rare as kryptonite.

Check or Test Socket: A temporary socket, often transparent, made over the plaster model to aid in obtaining a proper fit.

Prosthetic Feet

SACH:

Multiaxis foot: allows inversion and eversion and rotation of foot and is good for work on uneven surfaces at the expense of overall utility and weight.

Energy Storing: designed with a flexible keel and may perhaps become the new standard for general use. They are designed with a cantilever spring and are best for young & athletic patients.

Pylon. A rigid member, usually tubular, between the socket or knee unit and the foot to provide support. Often what is referred to as a pole in a temporary prosthesis; the weight bearing support shaft in an endoskeletal prosthesis.

Ramus: the middle portion of the pubic bone, in the crotch area. the front middle portion of the pubic bone, palpated just above the genitals

Residual Limb: remaining portion of a limb after amputation

Rigid Dressing: A plaster wrap over the stump, usually applied in the operating or recovery room immediately following surgery, for the purpose of controlling edema (swelling) and pain. It is preferable, but not necessary, that the rigid dressing be shaped in accordance with the basic biomechanical principles of socket design.

Shrinker: a prosthetic reducer made of elastic material and designed to help control swelling of the residual limb.

Stump: a word commonly used to refer to the residual limb.

Supracondular Suspension: a method of holding on a prosthesis by clamping above a joint.

Symes: An amputation through the ankle joint that retains the fatty heel pad portion and is intended to provide end weight bearing.

Temporary Prosthesis: a prosthesis made soon after an amputation as an inexpensive way to help retrain a person to walk and balance while shrinking the residual limb.

Transtarsal amputation: through the tarsal (tarsus) or foot bones

Normal Shape/Normal Alignment (NSNA) - also know as a narrow ML socket: First described by Ivan Long, this socket more closely approximates the shape of the musculature of a residual limb, when compared to a quad socket.

The sides, or medial/lateral measurement is tightened down to squeeze the residual limb, with most of the squeezing taking place on the outside or lateral side. This helps control the rotation of the socket by putting pressure along the fleshy area of the leg that can handle some side to side pressure.

Long's Line was also first described by Ivan Long, and has to do with the location of the foot in relation to the head and distal end of the femur and is used in alignment. It is a straight line from the head of the femur, though the distal end of the femur down to the center of the heel of the prosthetic foot.

The Ischial Containment Socket is a derivative of the Narrow ML, as a special attempt is made to form a little pocket for the ischium to sit in:

The ischium is a bone that protrudes from your pelvis that may get sore when sitting on a hard surface for extended periods of time.

An Ischial Containment (IC) socket cups this bone on the inside and back as well as the bottom to accomplish two things: 1) By cupping, or containing this bone inside the socket, the socket tends not to shift laterally (outside) when weight is put on it, making walking more efficient. This style of socket can be very intimate and may take some time to get used to in order for it to become comfortable.

TEC: Total Environmental Control liner

A TES belt is a suspension system that has a neoprene ring which the prosthesis slides into. There is a neoprene belt that attaches around your waist by velcro (uhh, hook and loop fastener). It usually gives good suspension but can be hot in a warm climate.

VSP - Vertical Shock Pylon - Shock absorber on the Reflex VSP model prosthetic foot by Flex Foot.

Wayne Renardson

Thanks Wayne & all the AMP-L folks!  J. Stewart