Thimble - Type Prostheses: A Successful Option for Distal Finger Loss

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Anaplastology is a branch of medicine dealing with the prosthetic rehabilitation of an absent, disfigured or malformed facial or body parts. The custom-made finger prosthesis is esthetically acceptable and comfortable for use in patients with amputated fingers, resulting in psychological improvement and personality. The success of the any prosthesis depends on the precision of planning the prosthesis, making the impression, wax sculpting and choosing the maxillofacial material that best suits the concerned circumstances. The article describes a simplified, cost effective and modified approach for fabricating thimble –type prosthesis in a case of lost finger tips.

Finger and partial finger amputations are frequently encountered problems leading to partial hand loss, which occur commonly due to trauma, congenital absence or malformations. All of these may present similar clinical challenges which can vary from loss of fingertip to complete finger amputation. Frequently, the loss of even the tip of a digit can be so emotionally disturbing to the patient that it deserves serious attention. Creating a life like prosthesis with characteristics such as pleasing shape, thin margins, lifelike fingernails, and realistic color, contours and details are essential for patient satisfaction, but to maintain all these qualities it needs good suspension. Recording a suitable impression of the residual supporting structure is primary requirement for obtaining better fit of the prosthesis. In the present case reports, successful prosthetic rehabilitation by fabricating thimble-type prosthesis for lost fingertip of middle finger in a young female is discussed.

A 24-year-old female patient came to the department with the chief complain of loss of upper phalange of the middle finger of left hand due to childhood injury. The patient was more esthetically and socially concerned with no functional problem reported as she was well adapted with time. Remnant of the nail was seen on the tip of amputated part. The distal amputation level was sub zone II as classified by Ishikawa et al. The patient was advised to cut her nail at timely interval, so that it may not affect the fitting of the prosthesis.