Prosthetic Glossary
Amputation: The surgical removal of all or part of a limb due to disease or injury
AE Amputee: Above-elbow or transhumeral amputee.
AK Amputee: Above-knee or transfemoral amputee.
BE Amputee: Below-elbow or transradial amputee.
BK Amputee: Below-knee or transtibial amputee.
Bilateral Limb: Loss involving two limbs.
Body image: Awareness and perception of one’s body related to both appearance and function
Chopart: Also known as a partial foot amputation
Congenital Limb Deficiency: An absent, shortened or abnormal limb present at birth.
Disarticulation: Amputation through the joint – i.e., hip, wrist, shoulder, knee, etc.
Extremity: Relating to arm or leg.
Gait: Referring to the manner or style of walking.
Hip Disarticulation: Amputation of entire lower limb at hip level
Ischial Tuberosity Also called the ischial bone or ischium; located in the pelvis and used for weight bearing.
Lower extremity (LE): Relating to the leg
Myoelectric: Type of upper extremity prosthesis using bio-feedback to control the function.
Orthosis: A brace/device that is used to straighten and provide support to a limb or the spine. (plural: orthoses)
Orthotist: One who fits braces and devices designed to straighten or support extremities/spine.
Partial Foot: Amputation through any part of the foot leaving the ankle intact.
PFFD Proximal Femoral Focal Deficiency: shortened femur bone
Preprioception: A sense of the location/orientation of one’s limb in space.
Prosthesis/ Prosthetic: An artificial replacement for a body part.(plural: prostheses)
Prosthetist: One who fits and makes prostheses.
Quadrilateral: Limb loss involving four limbs .
Residual Limb: Description of remaining limb from joint to amputation site.
Stump: A less commonly used word that describes the remaining limb.
Socket: Part of the prosthesis that encapsulates the residual limb.
Symes: Amputation through the ankle.
Transpelvic: Amputation of entire lower limb, plus a portion of the pelvic bone; may also be referred to as a hemipelvectomy.
Trilateral: Limb loss involving three limbs.
Upper extremity (UE): Relating to the arm.