Common Terms used in Prosthetics
Being familiar with some of the commonly used terms in the discussion and literature on amputation is quite helpful. This is a basic list of terms and you can add to it by sending us any words you are not familiar with and would like to see included on the list.
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| Word | Explanation |
| AK | Above the knee |
| AFO | Ankle Foot Orthosis |
| Alignment | Position of a prosthetic socket in relation to foot and knee |
| Amputation | Removal of all or part of a limb due to infection, injury, tumor, disease or trauma |
| Amputee | A person who has had all or part of a limb removed/amputated or is born without a limb |
| Traumatic amputation | A spontaneous removal of a limb for example as a result of an accident |
| Bilateral | Bi means both, meaning both sides. |
| BE | Below elbow - Trans Radial |
| BK | Below the knee - Trans Tibial |
| Cadence | Walking speed |
| Congenital limb deficiency | When all or parts of limb/s do not develop normally in the womb or are missing |
| CPO | Certified prosthetist and orthotist (also known as CO - CP - CPOT) |
| Disarticulation |
Limb is amputated through the joint |
| Distal |
Located at a distance away from the point of origin |
| Doffing | Taking the prosthesis off |
| Donning | Putting the prosthesis on |
| ECG | Electro-Cardiograph, recording of the electrical activity of the heart |
| Edema | Swelling of the tissues (also spelt oedema) |
| Endo | Inside |
| Exo | Outside |
| FO | Foot Orthosis |
| Gait training | Learning to walk with a prosthesis |
| HKAFO | Hip Knee Ankle Foot Orthosis |
| HO | Hip Orthosis |
| Interface | Inner surface of socket |
| KAFO | Knee Ankle Foot Orthosis |
| KO | Knee Orthosis |
| Liner | Soft socket rolled over the stump used for protection, comfort and in some cases as a suspension |
| Lower extremity | Lower limb |
| Occupational therapy | Training to maximise independance in daily life |
| PPAM | Pneumatic Post Amputation Mobility Aid is an inflatable device (not a prosthesis) that is used in the UK by physiotherapists as part of the rehabilitation programme prior to prosthetic rehabilitation. |
| Patella | Kneecap |
| Peripheral vascular disease | Disease of the blood vessels from a variety of causes |
| Phantom pain | Painful feeling in the part of the extremity that has been amputated |
| Phantom sensation | Awareness of the amputated limb although not described as pain |
| Phantom limb | Sensation of the presence of the limb that has been amputated |
| Physical therapy | Theraputic exercises in order to treat a disease or a disability |
| Pistoning | When a liner stretches so that the stump elongates |
| Prosthesis | A fabricated/artificial substitue for a body part that is missing |
| Prosthetist | Someone who specializes in designing, fitting and making artificial limbs |
| Proximal | Located at a distance near the point of origin |
| Residual limb | The remaining part of the limb after amputation (the stump) |
| Socket | The part of the prosthesis (artificial limb) that fits around the residual limb |
| Suction socket | A socket on an artificial leg that is held to the residual limb by the suction of negative pressure maintained within the socket |
| Transradial | Amputation below the elbow |
| Transfemoral (TF) | Amputation above the knee |
| Transmetasatal (TM) | Amputation through junction of toe and foot bones |
| Transtibial (TT) | Amputation below the knee |
| Transhumeral | Amputation above the elbow |
| Upper extremity | Upper limb |
| Total contact | Total contact between the limb and socket at all points |
| Vascular Amputation | Amputation surgery perfomed as a result of impaired circulation of blood through the blood vessels of the limb |
| Voluntary control | The ability of the user to control mechanical elements of the prosthesis i.e. control over motion in the knee, ankle, or foot. |
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A new orthotics and prosthetics dictionary is now available online, helping both prosthetists and amputees around the world to widen their understanding of the O&P vocabulary. Over 1,000 clinical, technical and biomechanical terms are featured so far.