title: Fitting very short finger stumps with silicone prosthesis: a nonsurgical method.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The fitting of short finger stumps with silicone prosthesis is a challenge because of the suboptimal finger-prosthesis contact due to length and distal tapering of digital stumps. The purpose of this report was to describe and evaluate the Micropore(™)-polyvinyl chloride tube technique for fitting short finger stumps.
  
  
  METHODS
  For a total of 10 patients, short finger stumps were fitted using the technique. A short length of polyvinyl chloride tube, trimmed and contoured to fit, was secured on the distal stump tip with Micropore tape. The prosthesis was worn over the polyvinyl chloride tube extension. Three different fitting methods were evaluated: fitting with and without the Micropore-polyvinyl chloride tube technique, and with the use of skin adhesive on the stump.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  All patients achieved a very secure prosthetic fit with the Micropore-polyvinyl chloride tube technique. No incidences of prosthesis slippage were reported at the longest follow-up of 30 months. The Micropore-polyvinyl chloride tube technique is an effective method for fitting short finger stumps.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hand & Reconstructive Microsurgery, National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore. dosv5@nus.edu.sg
authors.forename: Michael E L
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Leow
authors.forename: Alphonsus K S
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Chong
authors.forename: Yeong-Pin
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Robert W H
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Pho
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000672:Amputation Stumps / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D000673:Amputation, Traumatic / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D005385:Fingers; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011143:Polyvinyl Chloride; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D017755:Prosthesis Fitting / Q000379:methods*; D012828:Silicones; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D012828:Silicones; D011143:Polyvinyl Chloride
keywords: Micropore–polyvinyl chloride; Silicone prostheses; fitting; short stumps