A congenital disorder or defect of a limb present at birth is not an amputation, but rather a lack of development of part or all of a limb. A person born with a limb deficiency, usually can be helped by use of an artificial limb. Sometimes amputation of part of a deformed limb or other surgery may be desirable before the application of an artificial limb. There are more than 1.5 amputees per 1000 people in the United States and Canada, and therefore more than 380,000 amputees in the U.S. at the present time. Surgeons preserve as much length in thigh amputations as is medically feasible because longer stumps provide better control over the prosthesis.
Experienced surgeons avoid leaving unnecessary skin and muscle.
On the average, the prosthesis requires replacement every 2 to 4 years. A prosthesis may need to be replaced when it no longer fits, long before it wears out. Weight gain or loss of 5 pounds may also affect the fit. A temporary prosthesis takes about one week to make. A permanent prosthesis normally requires three or four trial fittings during its fabrication and is made to match your sound leg.