Wrist-driven prehension prosthesis for amputee patients with disarticulation of the thumb and index finger.

Partial hand amputations may leave significant functional limitations that are difficult to ameliorate by either orthoses or prostheses. Disarticulation of the thumb and index finger at the metacarpophalangeal joint level and the range of motion of the three remaining fingers would be insufficient to provide any type of grasp. In cases like this, a cosmetic hand usually seems to be the best solution. This report describes the design and use of a wrist-driven prehension prosthesis that was applied to a patient and provided a considerable improvement in function and cosmesis.