Basic requirements for upper extremity prostheses: the WILMER approach

Many prostheses are not being used because of the discrepancy between the expectations of patients with an arm defect and the reality. A patient wants and expects a prosthesis that looks naturally beautiful, that is comfortable to wear and that is easy to use. None of the existing prostheses fulfils all these demands. Nevertheless by soundly informing and educating the patient and by a proper use of the state of the art in upper extremity prosthetics, a lot is gained in really helping the patient. Moreover, a lot still has to be done in developing new prosthetic devices that really fulfil the basic needs of a patient with an arm defect. Some examples of the efforts of the WILMER group in this field are discussed.