The goal is to never allow prosthetic limitations to restrict the teen's activities. A desire for special patterns or colors to be incorporated into the prosthesis is common and easily accommodated. Others will insist the limb be as inconspicuous as possible and develop fastidious cleanliness to keep it looking immaculate. The challenge is to meet the individual needs of each individual teen as much as possible. For the adult, amputation is a personal crisis and often a family crisis as well.
Most adults feel guilty about an amputation regardless of the cause.
The opportunity to meet with others who have successfully coped with amputation in a support group setting can be extremely valuable in making this tremendous adjustment. Fear of the unknown is one of the most common responses to amputation. For this reason, early introduction to appropriate prosthetic care is generally recommended. Meeting the prosthetist, asking questions, researching the possibilities and gaining confidence in the potential for success are very important to recovery. From a design standpoint, the vocational and avocational interests of the amputee usually determine the details of the prosthesis.