These days, Myoelectric upper extremity prostheses are the state of the art. In the absence of a hand or arm, the child's brain still continues sending signals to "grasp" or "open" the hand in the residual limb. Myoelectric sensors can read those signals through the skin, (requiring no surgery), and with the computer chip magnify those signals many fold to actuate the tiny powerful motor to accomplish the task.

Infants and children learn to open and close their "Myo" on command in an astonishingly short period of time. Within a matter of a few days, the Myo becomes almost an unconscious part of them, opening and closing with an almost unconscious thought.

The prostheses utilizing this technology are designed to be extremely life-like and non-threatening. The response to them by playmates and parents is usually "isn't that neat!" (Please click here to watch a video clip of a little girl named Kitty. Click here to watch a video clip about Pediatrics Prosthetics Incorporated, featured on The Discovery Channel. Right click link and "save target as..." to copy to hard drive.) We have begun instituting some of the Myoelectric technology research and development to see if it is equally as effective with lower extremity prosthetics as well. Imagine how wonderful it will be to have the lower extremity prosthesis as responsive and versatile as upper extremity prosthesis have become.

The prosthetists on staff at Pediatric Prosthetics work with parents of child amputee leg victims every day, and are attuned to their needs. We would be delighted to provide you parents with e-mail addresses and phone numbers of other parents with amputee leg patients. Visit our site to see some great pictures of summer camps attended by our boy and girl amputee leg and arm patients. We are very experienced in fitting above the elbow and above the knee amputees with a life-like and non-threatening prosthetic. We make every effort to work with your family's normal rhythm, and at our own expense. Prosthetics have come a long way and hopefully with the help of people like Linda Putback-Bean, they will continue to advance. Linda has dedicated 20 years to helping infants and children who have suffered from limb loss.