The field of prosthetics has evolved significantly in recent years, with silicone limb prosthesis as a revolutionary material that has changed the way we replace missing body parts.
With 14 million people worldwide suffering from hand, foot, or finger amputations, there is a growing interest in silicone limb prosthesis, which provides psychological and social support to the patient, in addition to improving their appearance.
What is a silicone limb prosthesis?
Silicone limb prostheses are sculptures that mimic certain parts of the body, covering the missing part and restoring aesthetic balance, which helps the amputee to integrate into their social, family, and work environment. These limbs are made of rubbery materials, which belong to silicone chains instead of carbon chains, making silicone limb prosthesis insoluble in traditional organic solvents such as acetone, alcohol, and gasoline. The absence of carbon makes them resistant to high temperatures, and the limb has elastic properties and high resistance to tearing.
Is a silicone cosmetic tip practical?
The silicone prosthesis is aesthetically and psychologically practical, but functionally limited compared to mechanical and bionic prostheses. The person who uses a silicone limb prosthesis feels comfortable, as it looks natural in front of others, allowing them to adapt well to their social, work, and family environments.
Types of silicone limb prosthesis
Silicone limb prostheses are designed based on the type of limb that is missing, and one of the types of silicone limb prostheses is:
- Silicone fingers: Used to cover the amputated part of the finger and designed to mimic the natural shape, color, and texture of the opposite finger, the silicone finger is secured with a suction system that relies on tightening the tip around the remaining phalanx.
- Silicone hand: Used in cases of partial or complete amputation of the hand, it is handmade or reverse-engineered from a healthy hand. It offers no motor function, but accurately mimics veins, skin lines, and nails.
- Silicone foot: Also used in cases of partial or complete amputation of the foot, it is often fixed with a glove-like design that tightly covers the amputated area, making it easier to wear shoes and restoring aesthetic balance.
Advantages of silicone limb prosthesis
Silicone limb prosthesis has a number of advantages:
- The limb is free of sensitizing properties: Silicone is widely used in the manufacture of prosthetics due to its biocompatible properties, as it does not cause allergic reactions, making it safe and suitable for medical use.
- Ability to mimic natural skin color: Colorable silicone is able to adapt to different skin tones, providing a harmonious cosmetic appearance that helps the prosthesis blend naturally with the rest of the body.
- Accurate resemblance to the natural limb: Thanks to the elasticity of silicone and its ability to emphasize fine details such as skin wrinkles, veins, and nails, the prosthesis provides a realistic appearance that mimics the real limb with a high degree of accuracy.
- Resistant to environmental conditions, silicone is highly resistant to external factors such as moisture, heat, and sunlight, making it an ideal material for daily use in a variety of environments without compromising its performance or appearance.
- Lightweight and easy to maintain, silicone tips are lightweight, making them easy to use for long periods of time without fatigue, and their non-porous nature makes cleaning and maintenance simple and effective.
The difference between silicone and other materials in limb manufacturing
Silicone is flexible, soft, and mimics the texture of natural skin and is characterized by being insensitive, colorable, heat and moisture resistant, and does not react to chemicals, but on the other hand, it is not suitable for movement and is susceptible to damage over time.
Thermoplastics are hard and light, easy to manufacture and modify, and relatively cheap, but they are less comfortable in contact with the skin and do not give a cosmetic appearance, and carbon fiber is characterized by high strength and light weight, suitable for sports limbs, as it is used in the feet or functional lower limbs, and its disadvantages are that it is considered expensive and does not have flexibility.
Metals such as titanium are highly resistant to breakage and wear and tear and are used in industrial joints and internal structures, but they are relatively heavy and unsuitable for direct contact with the skin without coverage.
| The material | Aesthetic side | Functional side |
| Silicone | Excellent | limited |
| Thermoplastic | limited | Good |
| Carbon fiber | Zero | Excellent |
| Metals (titanium) | Not suitable | Excellent |
The uses of silicone limb prosthesis in cosmetics and concealment
What characterizes the silicone cosmetic tip is its remarkable cosmetic ability and its ability to conceal imperfections, including the following uses:
- Natural-looking restoration: It performs ultra-precise simulations to look exactly like the natural limb in terms of color, texture, and details (veins, fingerprints, freckles).
- Hide amputated parts: Effectively conceals congenital or acquired limb loss defects.
- Covering deformities: Such as scars and wounds, masking burn scars to make them look natural, and covering skin imperfections such as pigmentation.
- Helping diabetic patients: Patients with foot ulcers by applying a protective silicone cover.
Which patients are suitable for a silicone limb prosthesis?
There are several conditions that are suitable for the use of silicone limb prosthesis, including:
- Partial amputation patients: Amputation of part of one or more fingers, toes, or feet, as there must be a residual part to stabilize the prosthesis.
- Patients with complete amputation: Complete amputation of the hand or foot with no mechanical function, suitable for patients seeking a natural appearance.
- Patients with congenital malformations: Congenital conditions such as missing fingers or foot deformities.
- Injuries or burns that have led to disfigurement without complete loss of function.
Silicone limb prosthesis manufacturing steps
First, the remaining part of the limb is examined and the type of amputation is determined (partial or complete), and accurate photos and measurements of the remaining limb and the healthy opposite limb are taken to obtain accurate models, then a print is taken with medical materials such as alginate to take an accurate print of the remaining limb, and a copy of the healthy limb to take a mirror copy, then the model is sculpted and molded using wax first to reach the desired final shape.
The medical silicone is mixed with internal dyes to accurately simulate the patient’s skin color, and external coloring is added to show details, in the end the silicone is poured into the final mold and heat treated in a special oven and after the tip is removed from the mold, its shape and edges are adjusted, and the tip is delivered to the patient with an explanation of the method of installation, cleaning and care, which usually takes from 4 weeks to 8 weeks.
How to care for a silicone limb prosthesis and how long they last
Patients who use silicone limb prostheses must follow a set of rules to ensure that the limb is preserved and not damaged, including these guidelines:
- Daily cleaning and drying: Wash the limb with lukewarm water and mild soap, then dry the limb after washing.
- Avoid harmful substances: Do not use alcohol or strong detergents, and avoid direct contact with the ink or the sun.
- Skin care: Keep the skin under the tip clean with a light moisturizer.
- Periodic inspection: Any tearing, discoloration, or odor should be monitored, and a technician should be contacted when needed.
The lifespan of silicone limb prosthesis varies depending on a range of factors, including the quality of the materials used, the extent of regular care and maintenance, and how the individual uses it.
With good care and regular maintenance, silicone prostheses can last for several years without needing to be replaced or refurbished.
Safe cleaning and storage of the silicone tip
In order to clean the silicone prosthesis, it must be washed with lukewarm water and mild soap using a soft cloth or a non-rough sponge, and the limb must be washed thoroughly to remove soap residues, then the limb must be dried completely using a soft and clean towel, taking care not to use alcohol or strong sterilizers.
For safe storage, choose a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight or heat sources, place the tip in a clean cloth bag (tight plastic bags should be avoided as they trap moisture), and keep the tip away from strong odors or chemicals.
Silicone limb prosthesis cost in Turkey
Turkey is characterized by its use of the latest technology for fitting prostheses. The cost of a silicone limb prosthesis in Turkey ranges from 1500 to 5000 USD, which is significantly lower compared to the United States of America and European countries, where the cost is typically 3000-8000 USD.
| Silicone tip type | Average cost |
| Silicone hand | 2000 – 5000 dollars |
| Silicone foot | 2500 – 5000 dollars |
| Fingers | 1500 – 1800 dollars |
In conclusion, silicone limb prosthesis represents a significant development in the field of medical rehabilitation, as they offer aesthetic and functional advantages that contribute to improving the quality of life of patients and restoring them to social and psychological integration. However, more studies are needed to evaluate the long-term effectiveness and integration of silicone limb prosthesis with intelligent control technologies and biological interfaces.
Sources:
- Nayak, S., Lenka, P. K., Equebal, A., & Biswas, A. (2016). Custom-made silicone hand prosthesis: A case study. Hand Surgery and Rehabilitation, 35(4), 299-303.
- Goyal A, Goel H. Prosthetic rehabilitation of a patient with finger amputation using silicone material. Prosthetics and Orthotics International. 2014;39(4):333-337. doi:10.1177/0309364614528203
