The Latest Prosthetic Devices for Finger Amputations

As a firm we deal with lots of finger amputation cases involving accidents at work on building sites, in abattoirs and factories. These cases can range from the loss of a tip of one finger, half of a finger or to the loss of a whole finger or more than one finger on the same hand.

The effect of these injuries should not be underestimated by Claimant personal injury lawyers.

As a matter of course we would obtain a specialist hand surgeon’s report detailing the orthopaedic and tendon injuries to the hand and finger and the extent of the loss of any finger(s).

Sometimes clients would like to consider obtaining a custom made high definition silicone cosmesis to cover the loss of the finger or fingers and the nail bed and to essentially make the appearance of the hand look normal. They would feel awkward or embarrassed in social situations and a cosmesis would give them more confidence. With the invention of colour matching technology the silicone can now be colour matched to the individual’s skin tone so the overall effect is really good.

We would send the clients along to specialist companies who make these and they would write a report for the claim setting out the costs which we would claim for the client.

Up to now functional finger prostheses have been pretty basic and not been recommended very often by prosthetists as clients would not use them.

However, an American company called Naked Prosthetics, have just arrived in the UK and their MCPDriver and PIPDriver devices will shortly be available to be supplied by the UK’s leading prosthetic suppliers.

These are custom prosthetic devices specifically designed for finger loss through the middle phalanx of their fingers or through the proximal phalanx.

They mimic the complex function of a finger. The design of these devices is revolutionary and their ability to improve function with activities of daily living and a client’s leisure and sport activities could dramatically improve a client’s function.

These devices should now be considered in all finger amputation cases and appropriate expert reports obtained upon their potential to improve a client’s function.

Insurers and case managers should be asked to consider these devices when assisting in rehabilitation. Solicitors should be claiming the capital costs of the devices, fitting and prosthetist costs and maintenance and repair costs together with replacements, at appropriate time intervals.

 

Robert Aylott is a catastrophic injury solicitor. Call 020 7485 8811 if you would like to speak to him or a member of his team.